Returns boost Boro

Midfield trio Mohamed Shawky, Julio Arca and Marvin Emnes all return from injury to join the Middlesbrough squad for tomorrow’s Wear-Tees derby at Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League.

Shawky has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up on international duty with Egypt, former Sunderland favourite Arca proved his fitness after ankle ligament trouble in a 45-minute run-out for Boro’s reserves in midweek, while Emnes suffered a slight hamstring strain with Holland Under-21s.

Defender David Wheater also resumes after missing last week’s 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth because of tonsilitis.

Provisional squad: Turnbull, Jones, Hoyte, Huth, Wheater, Riggott, Pogatetz, Taylor, Aliadiere, Emnes, O’Neil, Shawky, Digard, Walker, Downing, Johnson, Mido, Alves, Craddock.