Boro face injury crisis

The mercurial midfielder will miss out after suffering a thigh strain, while England centreback Southgate is ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

With Colin Cooper set to miss out and former Derby defender Chris Riggot now a doubt following an ankle injury in training, Steve McClaran may be forced to give 17-year-old Matthew Bates a surprise debut alongside Ugo Ehiogu.