MIDDLESBROUGH are waiting anxiously to learn the extent of the knee injury suffered by Stuart Parnaby in the Reserves' 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle.

Worryingly for Boro, the England Under-21 full-back has had a scan on the right knee which sustained cruciate ligament damage in the opening home game of the season against Leeds in August.

Parnaby was out for four months after fears that he had ruptured the anterior cruciate, an injury that forced Juninho to undergo reconstructive surgery in the United States nearly two years ago, were quickly allayed.

Bradford-based Steve Bolan, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in sports injuries, confirmed only a partial tear to Parnaby's anterior cruciate and the knee was kept in a brace for six weeks.

But Boro yesterday sent 21-year-old Parnaby for a scan after he was hurt in a 20th-minute challenge with Newcastle's Chris Farman in the second-string derby at Rockliffe Park on Saturday.

A Boro spokesman last night confirmed: "It's Stuart's right knee, the same one he injured last time.

"He's had a scan, but we won't get the results sorted out until tomorrow. It's too early to say what the extent of the injury might be. We have to wait for the results.''

Boro have been hit by a series of long-term injuries this season. Apart from Parnaby, Ugo Ehiogu (knee ligaments), Andrew Davies and Malcolm Christie (both broken leg), Massimo Maccarone (ankle ligaments), Joseph-Desire Job (knee ligaments) and goalkeeper Carlo Nash (broken finger), have been the main casualties.

And skipper Gareth Southgate, already out for a month with a knee ligament injury, misses the rest of the season but is confident he can recover in time to make England's Euro 2004 squad.

Meanwhile, Boro's Reserve game tonight against Blackburn, originally scheduled for September, has been switched from Billingham Synthonia's Central Avenue to the Riverside Stadium (7.00).

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