Midweek matchwinner Dexter Blackstock returns to the bench as Freedman continues to rotate his attacking options with new signings Chris O'Grady, Ryan Mendes and Nelson Oliveira all making their home debuts.
Forest: De Vries, Lichaj, Mills, Wilson, Pinillos, Osborn, Lansbury (c), Vaughan, Mendes, Oliveira, O'Grady
Subs: Evtimov, Ward, Williams, Blackstock, Hobbs, C Burke, Grant
Stewart Downing, David Nugent and Albert Adomah all start for a Middlesbrough side that contains one-time Forest target Grant Leadbitter and ex-City Ground loanee Daniel Ayala.