Middlesbrough will have enjoyed the international break, having entered it unbeaten in the Premier League, six points to the good and with limited upheaval in terms of transfer window comings and goings.
Boro boss Aitor Karanka completed most of his shopping early on in the summer, so there wasn't much activity at the Rockliffe training ground on deadline day. Most of his new signings in the squad were well integrated before the preseason fixtures began, so it was a relatively settled and complete side that drew 0-0 at home to West Brom two weeks ago.
Hit-and-miss winger Albert Adomah heading to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee with Adama Traore moving in the other direction in a like-for-like swap.