Christie blow for Boro

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren will have to change his attack for tomorrow’s trip to Aston Villa after Malcolm Christie broke his leg in training.

The 24-year-old will be out long-term with a fractured tibia, although the injury does not have to be pinned, and that will leave Massimo Maccarone, Szilard Nemeth and Michael Ricketts to fight for the chance to lead the line with attacking midfielder Juninho coming into the equation.

Boro will also be without long-term absentees Ugo Ehiogu, Joseph Job and Stuart Parnaby (all knee), as well as David Murphy (ankle) and Allan Johnston (foot), although Ehiogu’s return to training after ligament damage has come as a boost.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Schwarzer, Nash, Queudrue, Mills, Southgate, Cooper, Riggott, Davies, Boateng, Mendieta, Zenden, Doriva, Greening, Juninho, Maccarone, Nemeth, Ricketts.