No Boateng for Boro

Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng will miss the Barclays Premiership clash with Blackburn on Boxing day after being told he could be sidelined for up to eight weeks by an ankle ligament injury.

The Dutchman damaged his ankle during the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat by Mark Hughes’ men on Wednesday evening and will not play again until well into the new year.