FORMER Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour has slammed striker Nicklas Bendtner’s choice of footwear.

Middlesbrough skipper George Boateng will lead out his side for a must-win Barclays Premiership clash with Wigan after escaping a four-match ban.

Injury-prone Malcolm Christie is battling to overcome a groin strain picked up in training this week ahead of tomorrow’s clash with leaders Manchester United at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka has been ruled out for six weeks with a broken toe and will miss Monday’s clash with Manchester City at Eastlands.

Jonathan Woodgate returns to the Middlesbrough squad for the derby against Newcastle after recovering from a thigh problem.

German international Robert Huth could be handed a senior debut for Middlesbrough in their Carling Cup clash with Notts County tomorrow night.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is confident England winger Stewart Downing will be fit for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership opener at Reading.

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren returned to his big guns in Eindhoven tonight as he attempted to end his reign by lifting the UEFA Cup.

Steve McClaren is again set to make wholesale changes to his starting line-up as Middlesbrough play their fourth game of an exhausting week at Bolton tomorrow.

Middlesbrough skipper Gareth Southgate and striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink are major doubts for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership clash against Everton.

Middlesbrough 0 West Ham 0

Middlesbrough were boosted by the surprise return of captain Gareth Southgate from an ankle injury for their FA Cup semi-final against West Ham at Villa Park.

Middlesbrough skipper Gareth Southgate is a major doubt for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against West Ham.

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren will hope to have two of his most senior players back from injury for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with West Ham.

Steaua Bucuresti: Carlos, Ogararu, Ghionea, Goian, Marin, Dica, Radoi, Bostina, Paraschiv, Nicolita, Oprita. Subs: Cernea, Balan, Cristocea, Nesu, Baciu, Cristea, Lovin.

Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka has a thigh strain and will miss the UEFA Cup semi-final first-leg clash with Steaua Bucharest in Romania.

Middlesbrough will be without centre-back Chris Riggott for tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup semi-final first-leg clash with Steaua Bucharest in Romania.

Middlesborough 2 West Ham United 0

The followng are the teams for today's Premiership matches with a kick-off time of 3pm.

Franck Queudrue has returned to training after a head injury and is in contention for Middlesbrough’s clash against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Gareth Southgate, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Stewart Downing should return for Middlesbrough’s FA Cup quarter-final replay with Charlton at The Riverside tomorrow.

Middlesbrough defender Franck Queudrue is a doubt for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership clash with Newcastle after last night’s heroic UEFA Cup fightback against Basle.

Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz is out of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City after suffering an horrendous head injury in Basle.

Basle 2 Middlesbrough 0

Middlesbrough skipper Gareth Southgate is out of tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg clash against Basle.

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren faces a potential defensive reshuffle for tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Charlton.

Teams for today's 3pm kick-offs in the Premiership.

Defender Andrew Davies is included in the Middlesbrough squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership match at Blackburn despite limping off at half-time against Roma on Wednesday.

Middlesbrough full-back Tony McMahon did not travel to Rome with his team-mates today after damaging knee ligaments at Charlton on Sunday.

Charlton 2 Middlesbrough 1

Two of the men in the frame to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager went head to head this afternoon as Charlton hosted Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren will make a late check on midfielder George Boateng before naming his squad for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership trip to Charlton.

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing could return to spearhead his side’s bid for a UEFA Cup quarter-final place against Roma tomorrow night.

Bolton v Man City

Middlesbrough 5 Nuneaton Borough 2

Ugo Ehiogu’s transfer to West Brom from Middlesbrough has collapsed following an injury to Gareth Southgate.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is battling against a shoulder injury to retain his place for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership clash with derby rivals Sunderland.

Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback returns to the Middlesbrough squad for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership trip to Wigan.

Middlesbrough 2 Xanthi 0

New signing Fabio Rochemback will miss Middlesbrough’s UEFA Cup clash with Greek side Skoda Xanthi after playing for Sporting Lisbon in this season’s Champions League.

Emanuel Pogatetz is included in the Middlesbrough squad to face Charlton on Sunday for the first time since his summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.

Middlesbrough centre-back Ugo Ehiogu returns from suspension to bolster manager Steve McClaren’s squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership clash at Birmingham.

Summer signing Edgar Davids mades competitive Tottenham debut against Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane.