|
BORO v STEAUA TEAM NEWS
The major piece of injury news concerning for the Boro is the probable return of Mark Viduka to the starting line-up after recovering from the thigh injury he sustained a couple of weeks back. He is said to be '50-50' for the game but expect him to play some role, even if it only for part of the match. Boro need to turn round the 1-0 reverse they sustained in Romania last Thursday and will be helped by the fact they have a full contingent of strikers available for tonight's tie.
The well documented fractured cheek bone sustained by Mark Schwarzer in the weekend's FA Cup encounter at West Ham means that Brad Jones is expected to play in goal.
Both Gareth Southgate and Chris Riggott return to the side after having missed the game in Bucharest due to an ankle injury and suspension respectively. This means that Boro should be able to field a far stronger defence than in Romania last week.
Long term injuries Gaizka Mendieta (metatarsal) and Emanuel Pogatetz (broken nose and cheek) are of course abscent.
Banel Nicolita and Sorin Paraschiv both picked up bookings last week that rules them both out of the tie at the Riverside tonight. Expect Victoras Iacob and Florin Lovin to take their places. Middlesbrough meanwhile have no players suspended.
Middlesbrough Squad: Jones, Turnbull, Knight, Bates, Parnaby, Queudrue, Taylor, Riggott, Southgate, Ehiogu, Wheater, Doriva, Boateng, Morrison, Cattermole, Rochemback, Parlour, Johnson, Downing, Kennedy, Viduka, Hasselbaink, Maccarone, Yakubu, Christie
ComeOnBoro.com Team Prediction by Briggsy
.........................Jones
..Parnaby..Riggott....Southgate..Queudrue
..Morrison..Rochemback..Boateng..Downing
................Viduka...Hasselbaink
BACK TO STEAUA MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
|
|
|
|
