Mendieta missing for Boro

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren is without Gaizka Mendieta for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership clash against Birmingham at the Riverside.

Winger Mendieta strained a calf in training this week and joins Michael Reiziger on the sidelines, with McClaren confirming the Holland international defender will be out for two months with a shoulder injury, rather than until after Christmas as has been speculated.

McClaren at least has Ugo Ehiogu available after recovering from a back injury, with Chris Riggott the man to make way should the centre-back to return to the starting line-up.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Queudrue, Southgate, Ehiogu, Cooper, Boateng, Zenden, Parlour, Downing, Viduka, Hasselbaink, Job, Nemeth, Downing, Riggott, Graham, Nash.