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.