Boro dealt Maccarone blow

Middlesbrough have been dealt a massive blow on the eve of their Premiership opener at Fulham with the news that record signing Massimo Maccarone will be out for a further 10 weeks.

The Italian striker damaged ankle ligaments in a pre-season friendly at Hull and now joins long-term absentees Ugo Ehiogu (knee ligaments) and David Murphy (ankle) on the sidelines.