Schwarzer battles for fitness

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is battling against a shoulder injury to retain his place for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership clash with derby rivals Sunderland.

The Australian suffered the knock in the 1-1 draw at Wigan last weekend, with midfielder James Morrison sustainingan ankle problem in the same game which could rule him out.

Midfielder Ray Parlour missed out at the JJB Stadium with a hip injury and remains a doubt but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Gaizka Mendieta, Szilard Nemeth, Chris Riggott and Stuart Parnaby could all be available after returning to full training.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Knight, Xavier, Parnaby, Queudrue, Pogatetz, Southgate, Ehiogu, Riggott, Bates, Boateng, Parlour, Rochemback, Morrison, Johnson, Mendieta, Nemeth, Hasselbaink, Yakubu, Viduka, Maccarone.