Arca set for Boro return

Midfielder Julio Arca will hope to return to the Middlesbrough side for tomorrow's Premiership clash with Sheffield United after missing the defeat at Blackburn with a knee injury.

Utility man Abel Xavier will also be pushing for a starting place as Gareth Southgate looks to shuffle his side after another below-par performance at Ewood Park.

Southgate hoped to avoid any new injury concerns but Robert Huth will definitely not figure as he is ruled out until the middle of January at the earliest.

Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Davies, Taylor, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Boateng, Cattermole, Arca, Morrison, Downing, Viduka, Yakubu, Jones, Parnaby, Xavier, Mendieta, Rochemback, Christie, Euell, Maccarone, Johnson.