Downing in Boro fitness race

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is confident England winger Stewart Downing will be fit for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership opener at Reading.

Downing returned from international duty against Greece with a dead leg, but should be fit.

Lee Cattermole (ankle) and Ugo Ehiogu (Achilles) are out and Ray Parlour (knee) is a doubt, but Gaizka Mendieta could be back from a long-standing Achilles injury.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Turnbull, Parnaby, Davies, Arca, Pogatetz, Taylor, Riggott, Bates, Morrison, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Mendieta, Johnson, Parlour, Viduka, Yakubu, Maccarone.