Boateng banned for Boro

Middlesbrough will be without suspended skipper George Boateng for tomorrow’s trip to Portsmouth.

The Dutchman reached five bookings for the season in the 2-1 home defeat by West Ham on December 22 and will sit out at Fratton Park, while former Pompey midfielder Gary O’Neil is battling against the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last two games.

Defender David Wheater was withdrawn at half-time in the 3-0 St Stephen’s Day defeat at Birmingham because of illness, while Andrew Taylor (foot), Chris Riggott (calf) and Mido (groin) are still out.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Turnbull, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Pogatetz, Huth, Cattermole, O’Neil, Arca, Rochemback, Johnson, Shawky, Aliadiere, Downing, Tuncay, Lee, Hutchinson.