A testing Teesside is Leicester City's impending stage of conflict. Indeed, a primal narrative of the English game unfolds tonight as two storied tribes converge upon the Riverside to do war; with destinies diametrically opposed.
On one flank stand the Smoggies; Kim Hellberg's high-fliers who occupy the Championship's silver medal position. Their eyes fixed firmly on the glittering prize of the Premier League. It must be acknowledged that LCFC supporters are nervous for this one - typically, that's when a surprise result transpires.
On the other, the Foxes; now under the uncompromising stewardship of Gary Rowett. They arrive as wounded predators: mired in the relegation abyss and fighting for their very existence.
It is a collision of promotion ambition pitted against survival desperation. Where the grace of the hunter meets the grit of the cornered in an uncompromising environment. As the floodlights flicker to life, Rowett's tactical blueprint must now withstand the furnace of a promotion-chasing atmosphere; here is how Leicester intend to storm the North East.
Reacting to Gary Rowett's Leicester City lineup for Middlesbrough - and the likely game plan
Below is certainly an interesting and blended lineup for the trip to the Riverside. It looks as though Rowett is leaning on a mix of experience and youth, naturally with so many injury concern, to try and secure a result against second-place Middlesbrough. Here is the City starting side:
31 Asmir Begovic
33 Luke Thomas
​5 Caleb Okoli
​4 Ben Nelson
21 Ricardo Pereira (c)
​22 Oliver Skipp
​8 Harry Winks
​14 De Cordova-Reid
​29 Divine Mukasa
​10 Stephy Mavididi
​20 Patson Daka
Our team news for #MIDLEI 🦊 pic.twitter.com/pqF9ddK5ZP
— Leicester City (@LCFC) February 24, 2026
LCFC supporters were worried about Abdul Fatawu's fitness; thankfully he is back on the substitute's bench. Fans in LE2 are also seemingly pleased that Jordan Ayew is not involved.
​It's another big night for young Mukasa. The backup brigade actually provide some half-decent and inexperienced firepower if Leicester need to chase the game late on.