Osbourne set for Boro bow

Loan signing Isaiah Osbourne is set to make his Middlesbrough debut at Crystal Palace as boss Gordon Strachan could make changes.

Strachan swooped to sign the 21-year-old Aston Villa midfielder on a two-month deal and he trained with the Boro squad on Thursday ahead of the trip to London for the game at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Osbourne could be pitched into the centre of midfield alongside Gary O'Neil which might see Rhys Williams drop out of the side.

Strachan must also decide if Julio Arca deserves to stay in the unfamiliar role of right midfield after an improved second-half display in last week's 1-0 home defeat against Plymouth Argyle, while loan striker Marcus Bent will hope to start up front with Leroy Lita after a promising substitute debut display against the Pilgrims when he came on for the ineffective Marvin Emnes.

Strachan must decide whether to stick with Justin Hoyte at right-back or draft the more physical Tony McMahon into that role against the Eagles. Alternatively Williams could drop into that position if he is replaced in midfield by Osbourne.

At left-back Joe Bennett, Jon Grounds and the fit-again Andrew Taylor will all be vying to replace Emanuel Pogatetz, who suffered a cheekbone injury against Plymouth in his first appearance of the season following summer knee surgery.

Jeremie Aliadiere, Seb Hines, Caleb Folan and Matthew Bates are all out with respective ankle, knee, hamstring and cruciate ligament injuries.