Boat comes in for Boro

Middlesbrough captain George Boateng returns to the squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Everton after serving a one-match ban.

The Dutchman missed Saturday’s 1-0 win at Portsmouth after reaching five bookings for the season.

Manager Gareth Southgate will hope defender David Wheater (virus), midfielder Fabio Rochemback (calf) and striker Jeremie Aliadiere (hamstring) are able to resume, while midfielder Gary O’Neil should be fit after limping off with cramp at Fratton Park.

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