Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate says youngsters Tom Craddock, 20, and Ben Hutchinson, 19, deserve their chance in tonight's Carling Cup tie at Tottenham.
Southgate said: "Both lads have been scoring regularly for the reserves so they deserve the chance to travel with the squad."
Influential midfielder Julio Arca is missing after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury against the Black Cats and, with O'Neil suspended, Southgate has included 19-year-old untested winger Graeme Owens.