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BORO v BLACKBURN TEAM NEWS
Boro midfield powerhouse George Boateng is out for eight weeks with an ankle ligament injury and could be replaced by fit-again Gaizka Mendieta.
Boro are still without Stuart Downing, Ray Parlour and Malcolm Christie but Szilard Nemeth and Mark Viduka both return to the squad.
Blackburn will be without defender Lucas Neill and striker Paul Dickov through suspension.
Craig Bellamy is a major doubt because of a hamstring strain, meaning Shefki Kuqi should retain his place in the starting line-up.
Blackburn Squad: Friedel, Todd, Nelsen, Khizanishvili, Gray, Matteo, Bentley, Reid, Tugay, Savage, Mokoena, Pedersen, Emerton, Kuqi, Bellamy, Enckelman, Thompson.
Middlesbrough Squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Bates, Parnaby, Queudrue, Pogatetz, Southgate, Riggott, Ehiogu, Wheater, Mendieta, Doriva, Morrison, Rochemback, Nemeth, Johnson, Kennedy, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone.
Steve McClaren commented on the midweek Carling Cup defeat by today's opponenets:
"It was very unlike us. I said to the players, 'Just make sure that's a one-off'. We have put a great emphasis on Europe, we have put a great emphasis on the Carling Cup. We have played strong teams in every game and maybe we have suffered in the league because of that. We are where we are because we deserve to be at this stage. But it's only at this stage and you are judged on the league at the end of the season, so let's be judged then."
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes:
"Craig Bellamy is a real threat for us. He brings pace, his build-up play and his link-up play is very good. He creates chances. He is a good all-round forward. But we have got to be conscious of the situation we found ourselves in before when Craig had an injury to his knee. We want him to have a sustained run of form and if we do bring him back it will be slowly to try to make sure he is around for a few more weeks."
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