Boro boss Steve McClaren may have to turn to youth with Robbie Mustoe, Gianluca Festa and Dean Windass adding to the already lengthy injury list.

Ugo Ehiogu, Alen Boksic and Jonathon Greening are all also absent once again.

The highly rated Stuart Parnaby is in line for his Boro debut, and Mark Hudson could also force himself back into the reckoning.

Colin Cooper will also return, in what will be his first game since the tragic death of his Finlay back in February.