JORDI Gomez will make his debut for new-look Blackburn Rovers in today’s Championship clash at high-flying Middlesbrough – who have named Jordan Rhodes as a substitute.

Rhodes made a big-money move to the Riverside Stadium on Monday but, if he is to make his debut against the club he has just left, it will have to be off the bench.

Rovers’ own deadline day signing, midfield playmaker Gomez, comes into a side that shows three changes to the one that started last Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup win at Oxford United.

Striker Danny Graham, who like goalkeeper Jason Steele is a Middlesbrough old boy, returns to the starting line-up after being cup-tied against Oxford.

And there is also a recall for the fit-again Hope Akpan who looks set to line-up in a three-man midfield, alongside Corry Evans and Darragh Lenihan, with Gomez and Tony Watt supporting Graham.

Watt, who scored on his debut at the Kassam Stadium, will be making his first league appearance for Rovers.

As will centre-back Elliott Ward who keeps his place after an impressive showing against Oxford.

Wingers Craig Conway and Elliott Bennett, as well as striker Simeon Jackson, are among the subs.

Second-placed Middlesbrough, who have lost their last two matches, have also made three changes.

On-loan Leicester City full-back Ritchie de Laet and on-loan Athletic Bilbao striker Kike Sola, as well as fit-again centre-back Ben Gibson, are in.

Rhodes is on the bench along with fellow new boys Gaston Ramirez and Julien de Sart and top-scorer Christian Stuani.

Rovers, while in unbeaten in three games in all competitions, are searching for their first league victory in eight outings.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, De Laet, Adomah, Clayton, Leadbitter, Downing, Kike Sola, Nugent. Subs: Mejias, Rhodes, Ramirez, de Sart, Stuani, Kalas, Forshaw.

Rovers: Steele, Marshall, Ward, Hanley, Spurr, Evans, Lenihan, Akpan, Gomez, Watt, Graham. Subs: Raya, Kilgallon, Taylor, Duffy, Bennett, Conway, Jackson.