Fabio in fitness fight

Middlesbrough midfielder Fabio Rochemback could return to the squad for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership trip to Everton providing he shakes off a slight groin problem.

The Brazilian was ineligible for the 3-0 UEFA Cup victory over Dnipro but would have missed out anyway with the injury he picked up in the 4-1 win over Manchester United.

Gareth Southgate (groin) and Ugo Ehiogu (knee) are likely to remain on the sidelines, along with the suspended Abel Xavier and Ray Parlour (knee), but George Boateng and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who were rested in midweek, will be back in contention.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Parnaby, Pogatetz, Riggott, Bates, Wheater, Queudrue, Boateng, Mendieta, Rochemback, Morrison, Doriva, Johnson, Kennedy, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone, Nemeth.