Boateng takes late test

Gareth Southgate will give inspirational skipper George Boateng every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership clash with Bolton.

The Dutch midfielder missed Tuesday’s FA Cup replay victory over Hull with a knee injury he picked up at Charlton last Saturday and will undergo a late fitness test.

Defenders Andrew Taylor and Emanuel Pogatetz both missed the dramatic 4-3 win over Hull due to minor knocks but will make Riverside returns.

Taylor will replace Seb Hines at left-back while Abel Xavier is likely to move across to right-back at the expense of Andrew Davies to accommodate Pogatetz.

Boro (from): Schwarzer, Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Boateng, Cattermole, Arca, Morrison, Downing, Yakubu, Viduka, Jones, Davies, Hines, Euell, Johnson, Christie.