Boro wait on Boateng

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren will make a late decision on midfielder George Boateng ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round trip to Preston.

The Dutchman limped off with an ankle problem in last night’s 2-1 UEFA Cup victory in Stuttgart, his first start for 12 games after ankle ligament damage, although his departure was precautionary.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was also withdrawn feeling the effects of a heavy pitch, although he too is expected to be fit, while Gaizka Mendieta (hamstring) and Mark Viduka (illness) could return and Franck Queudrue (knee) has an outside chance, but James Morrison (hip), Ugo Ehiogu and Lee Cattermole (both hamstring) and Ray Parlour (ankle) will all be missing and Andrew Davies is cup-tied.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Parnaby, McMahon, Southgate, Riggott, Pogatetz, Taylor, Bates, Doriva, Rochemback, Mendieta, Boateng, Downing, Johnson, Kennedy, Hasselbaink, Maccarone, Yakubu, Viduka, Liddle.