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BORO v STUTTGART TEAM NEWS
Boro have received three major boosts going into this game, with the news that Mark Viduka, Ugo Ehiogu and Massimo Maccarone have all returned to training this week.
The Australian international has finally shaken off the virus that resulted in his absence from the first leg in Germany, as well as Middlesbrough's trip to Preston on Sunday. Ehiogu has recovered from the hamstring tear that he sustained at the Ricoh Arena against Coventry City on January 28 but is quoted as only being 50-50 for tonight's match. A similar probability is also quoted for Boro's record-signing, having broken his nose three weeks ago.
The major new injury news is that sustained by Fabio Rochemback against Preston on Sunday. He faces an eight week lay-off with damage to his ankle ligaments. This practically rules him out for the rest of the season.
Emanuel Pogatetz meanwhile is suspended for one game after having picked up his third booking in Boro's UEFA Cup campaign at the Gottlieb-Daimler stadium last Thursday.
Ray Parlour has still not recovered from the knee injury that he picked up in the second FA Cup tie against Coventry but he is expected to return to training in the next week or so. James Morrison is the only other major absentee although Boro were handed a boost on Thursday when it was revealed that he only requires rest and not surgery on his injured knee.
Stuttgart also have one of their major players suspended, with the influential Fernando Meira also having picked up a third UEFA Cup booking in last week's encounter. He is likely to be replaced by former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel at centre-half.
Martin Stranzl meanwhile is out for three weeks after picking up a tear in his knee muscles against Boro last Thursday. Silvio Meißner is also doubtful for the tie at the Riverside but Armin Veh will wait until just before kick-off before making a decision on the player. He, along with Jesper Grønkjær, missed Stuttgart's 2-1 victory against Mainz on Sunday. The Dane is expected to play at the Riverside tonight.
Ludovic Magnin could replace Heiko Gerber meanwhile.
Middlesbrough squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Davies, Parnaby, Queudrue, Bates, Southgate, Ehiogu, Riggott, Mendieta, Downing, Boateng, Doriva, Johnson, Kennedy, Cattermole, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Yakubu, Maccarone
Stuttgart squad: Hildebrand, Heinen, Delpierre, Magnin, Babbel, Meißner, Gerber, Soldo, Tiffert, Bierofka, Gentner, Hitzlsperger, Grønkjær, Carevic, Cacu, Gomez, Tomasson, Ljuboja
With thanks to Jens for the information on Stuttgart.
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