FULHAM v MIDDLESBROUGH TEAM NEWS

There are no new injuries to report for Boro and the team fielded at Craven Cottage will largely be dependent on who Steve McClaren is willing to risk ahead of next week's UEFA Cup Final.

However it is widely anticipated that many of the fringe and Youth Academy players will be given vital Premiership experience this afternoon.

Mark Schwarzer is still out but it is reported that he is likely to start in Eindhoven, wearing a mask in order to protect his fractured cheekbone.

Meanwhile it is likely that strikers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka and Gareth Southgate will not be risked ahead of Wednesday's game.

Indeed the Boro captain is still quoted as 50-50 for the game against Seville and thus will definitely not feature in South-west London.

Colin Cooper is also set for a place on the bench, at the age of thirty-nine. If he features, it is likely to be the last appearance in a Boro shirt for the veteran stalwart.

Gaizka Mendieta and Emmanuel Pogatetz are still out with their long-term injuries. No one is suspended.

Two integral members of the Fulham squad picked up injuries in their 2-1 away defeat at the Stadium of Light in midweek. Both Luis Boa Morte (knee and groin) and defender Ian Pearce (knee) are set to miss Sunday's encounter at Craven Cottage.

Fulham are also missing centre-back Zat Knight who is going for a trip to the dentists after he got hit in the face against Manchester City.

Papa Bouba Dioup faces a late fitness test on his hamstring but is unlikely to start for the Londoners.

Meanwhile there is good news for Fulham, what with the return of influential goalkeeper Antti Niemi to the squad after feeling a slight twinge in his knee at the Stadium of Light.

Expect any two of Carlos Bocanegra, Phillippe Christanval or Alain Goma to play in the central of defence for the Cottagers.

ComeOnBoro Team Prediction by Briggsy

...............................Turnbull
McMahon ... Bates ....... Wheater ... Taylor
Morrison... Cattermole .. Kennedy ... Johnson
................. Graham ........ Christie

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