Injuries pile up for Boro

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren is facing a fresh injury crisis ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Barclays Premiership leaders Chelsea.

Colin Cooper, Bolo Zenden and Ray Parlour are struggling with knee problems, while Chris Riggott and Mark Viduka (both hamstring), George Boateng (broken toe) and Gaizka Mendieta (cruciate ligament) remain on the sidelines and Ugo Ehiogu, Stuart Parnaby and Malcolm Christie are still short of match fitness.

McClaren has drafted teenagers Danny Graham, Matthew Bates and David Wheater into the squad alongside fellow youngster James Morrison, and may have to use several at Stamford Bridge.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Nash, Reiziger, McMahon, Davies, Queudrue, Southgate, Cooper, Bates, Wheater, Parlour, Zenden, Doriva, Downing, Morrison, Wilson, Hasselbaink, Job, Nemeth, Graham.