Interim Middlesbrough gaffer Steve Agnew faces a mammoth task in trying to keep his side in the Premier League, and another loss at home to Arsenal in midweek did little to help matters.

Following the sacking of Aitor Karanka, the club have failed to pick up with any sort of response, and sit comfortably in the bottom three with Championship football looking a real possibility.

The Boro fans here in the Tavern have been having some sobering chats with our landlord this week around all things Boro related, and one thing that’s for sure is that they aren’t too happy with team selection of late.

Manager Steve Agnew might well agree, and could well make changes for today’s game at Bournemouth.

With this in mind, here are TWO Middlesbrough players who could be axed from the line-up for the game with the Cherries today…

Alvaro Negredo

The big Spaniard started the season well and still looks the clubs most likely source of goals, but Agnew could opt for a different approach this week.

Boro do not have lots of attacking talent to choose from, but they need goals, and one of the squad players might well fancy stepping up to the plate this weekend.

Stuart Downing

The former England man did little really to impress against Arsenal, and could find himself out of the team come this weekend.

With Adama Traore waiting on the bench and full of pace and energy, dropping Downing and replacing him with the former Barcelona man could well be a smart move.