sport

MEGSON WAITS ON INTERNATIONAL DUO

Gardner - late check.

Bolton manager Gary Megson will check on the fitness of Ricardo Gardner and Danny Shittu ahead of the trip to Middlesbrough.

The pair were away on international duty with Jamaica and Nigeria respectively this week.

Joey O'Brien definitely misses out with a thigh injury but Megson hopes Ebi Smolarek and Gretar Steinsson will be available after illness and injury.

Emanuel Pogatetz and Mido have both been passed fit for Middlesbrough.

Skipper Pogatetz missed Austria's mid-week friendly due to a knee injury while top scorer Mido has been sidelined for two matches due to a groin condition. The Egyptian could replace the out-of-sorts Afonso Alves in Gareth Southgate's starting XI.

Jeremie Aliadiere has recovered from the illness which forced him out of last Sunday's draw at Everton and is likely to replace Julio Arca. Centre-back Chris Riggott (hamstring) is out and David Wheater is expected to replace the in-form defender.

Teams:

Middlesbrough (from): Turnbull, Hoyte, Taylor, Wheater, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Digard, Aliadiere, Downing, Mido, Tuncay, Jones, Grounds,Arca, Walker, Emnes, Johnson A, Alves.

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel, Nolan, Riga, McCann, Muamba, Gardner, Taylor, Davies, Elmander, Al Habsi, Shittu, Smolarek, Basham, Cohen, Fojut.