Roch back for Boro

Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback returns to the Middlesbrough squad for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership trip to Aston Villa.

The 23-year-old was ineligible for last night’s 0-0 UEFA Cup draw with Xanthi in Greece, but will be back to boost a squad which is again likely be without goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (shoulder) and defender Ugo Ehiogu (groin).

Midfielder Ray Parlour is definitely out with a knee problem, but striker Mark Viduka is hopeful of shaking off the Achilles problem which sidelined him for the trip to Xanthi.

Provisional squad: Jones, Knight, Xavier, Queudrue, Pogatetz, Southgate, Riggott, Parnaby, Bates, Doriva, Boateng, Rochemback, Mendieta, Morrison, Johnson, Kennedy, Hasselbaink, Yakubu, Viduka, Maccarone.