Downing in contention for UEFA Cup tie

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing could return to spearhead his side’s bid for a UEFA Cup quarter-final place against Roma tomorrow night.

The England international has missed the club’s last two games with a knee problem, but has trained this week and is in contention for the first leg at the Riverside Stadium.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is back after illness and Ray Parlour (ankle) is also fit, but Stuart Parnaby is out for up to four weeks with a hamstring strain while James Morrison (hip) and Fabio Rochemback (ankle) remain on the sidelines.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Davies, McMahon, Southgate, Riggott, Ehiogu, Bates, Boateng, Doriva, Downing, Mendieta, Cattermole, Parlour, Johnson, Kennedy, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone.