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MIDDLESBROUGH v BIRMINGHAM - TEAM NEWS
Will Steve McClaren stick with the formation and line-up that won us the match against West Brom is the burning question of the day.
Stewart Downing missed last week's match with a knee injury but is in line for a return to the Boro squad today after making a recovery.
Doriva is also back in the squad after being out for a while with a back strain.
The Boro squad is at it's strongest for many months with every player apart from Fabio Rochemback and James Morrison unavailable.
Ray Parlour has returned to full training and Morrison is due to return to full training a week on Monday after it was revealed he did not require surgery on a persistent hip problem.
For Birmingham Matthew Upson, Chris Sutton, Muzzy Izzet and Kenny Cunningham are all out of today's match.
Midfielder Damien Johnson has recovered from a knee knock and David Dunn could be given a start. Central defender Alex Bruce is also available after serving a one-match ban.
Skipper Gareth Southgate told the press,
"The key for me is the midfield area. We have played with three men in the middle of midfield and it's a lot more solid in front of us. "We have been able to play players in positions that they are comfortable in, whereas for one reason or another earlier in the year, we weren't always able to do that and it was square pegs in round holes a lot of the time. It's just a shame now we have lost Fabio (Rochemback) at a time when he was just starting to come into form. He's a big loss at this stage."
Middlesbrough Squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Parnaby, Davies, Southgate, Riggott, Ehiogu, Bates, Boateng, Doriva, Downing, Mendieta, Cattermole, Johnson, Kennedy, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone.
Birmingham Squad: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Martin Taylor, Bruce, Latka, Gray, Lazaridis, Painter, Pennant, Johnson, Butt, Clemence, Jarosik, Dunn, Heskey, Campbell, Forssell, Kilkenny, Vaesen.
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