Double injury worry for McClaren

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren faces another injury headache after young stars Stewart Downing and James Morrison were both forced out of last night’s UEFA Cup tie.

Morrison was taken off at half time with a groin strain of Boro’s 2-1 win over Grazer AK, while Downing was stretchered off late with a hamstring problem, with both doubtful for Sunday’s Riverside clash against Charlton.

McClaren remains without a number of key players, although Mark Viduka and George Boateng are closing in on a return, while Gaizka Mendieta, Ugo Ehiogu and Malcolm Christie are more long term.

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