Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan is himself struggling to make the club's npower Championship trip to Nottingham Forest. The 53-year-old cancelled his pre-match press conference on Monday after succumbing to illness. It is understood Strachan has gone down with a bout of gastro-enteritis, a similar complaint to the one which struck midfielder Mickael Tavares last week. Tavares was able to start Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Leeds and although he did not last the 90 minutes, he is expected to make the trip to the City Ground. Midfielder Barry Robson serves the second leg of his three-match ban while Kevin Thomson continues his battle for fitness following his aborted comeback from a fractured fibula. Justin Hoyte is close to returning from a hamstring injury but Jonathan Franks (herniated disc), Willo Flood (knee), Rhys Williams (pelvis) and Matt Kilgallon (back) remain on the casualty list.
Source: PA
Source: PA