Jordan Hugill is on loan at Middlesbrough from West Ham United, who signed the striker for a reported £10m from Preston in January 2018Follow live text coverage from 19:00 GMT on Tuesday
Louis Moult could start up front for Preston after top goalscorer Callum Robinson was ruled out for at least three months with a hamstring injury.
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Alan Browne is fit despite picking up a knock in the 4-1 win over Blackburn but Josh Harrop, Daniel Johnson, Billy Bodin and Sean Maguire are all out.
Boro boss Tony Pulis has a fully-fit squad for the visit to Deepdale with defender Ryan Shotton back in training.
Jordan Hugill, who has scored three in two games, should face his former club.
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Match facts
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Preston are winless in 12 matches against Middlesbrough (D5 L7) in all competitions since a 1-0 victory in January 1987 in the FA Cup.
Middlesbrough have not lost a league match against Preston since April 1972, when they were beaten 1-0 at Deepdale.
North End boss Alex Neil's only victory over Middlesbrough was in the 2014-15 Championship play-off final when he was Norwich manager (2-0).
Middlesbrough have kept more clean sheets than any other team in English league football this season (11).
Preston are unbeaten in each of their last eight games (W4 D4), the current longest streak in the Championship.
Source: bbc.com