New injury blows for Boro

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren is facing a fresh injury crisis as he prepares for tomorrow night's vital Barclays Premiership clash with derby rivals Sunderland.

An already lengthy casualty list grew after Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup fourth-round draw at Coventry where skipper Gareth Southgate and Fabio Rochemback (both ankle) and Lee Cattermole (dead leg) picked up injuries which make them doubtful for the Stadium of Light clash.

Chris Riggott and Jason Kennedy (back), Ugo Ehiogu (hamstring), James Morrison (hip), Ray Parlour and George Boateng (ankle) and Franck Queudrue (knee ligaments) are out, and Boro were today attempting to recall defender Andrew Davies from a loan spell at Derby.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Parnaby, Pogatetz, Taylor, Southgate, Bates, Wheater, Doriva, Downing, Mendieta, Johnson, Cattermole, Rochemback, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone.