Boro will almost certainly have to do without Aussie World Cup heroes Mark Schwarzer and Mark Viduka when they line up against Fulham at the Riverside on Sunday.
The duo picked up injuries helping Australia qualify for next summer's World Cup finals with a penalty shoot-out success over Uruguay in Sydney on Wednesday.
Schwarzer has a slight shoulder injury that will be assessed on his return today. Brad Jones is on stand-by.
Viduka looks more unlikely to play after suffering a recurrence of an Achilles injury.
He will see a specialist in Australia before returning to Teesside.
Source Evening Gazette by Philip Tallentire