MIDDLESBROUGH were last night dealt a double blow at Ewood Park with the news that influential defender Ugo Ehiogu could be facing months on the sidelines.

Ehiogu suffered a punctured lung and fractured ribs in a clash with Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel in the first half yesterday.

Boro boss Steve McClaren revealed that the centre-back was rushed straight to hospital.

McClaren, who has already got George Boateng and Juninho out with knee injuries, said: "It's a massive blow for us because Ugo is one of our top players and he is a leader.

"We need as many experienced men as possible and he is going to be a big loss. He challenged hard on the keeper and that's where it happened. It looks a serious injury and it's a big blow."

The extent of Ehiogu's injury made the day even worse for Boro, who suffered their seventh straight defeat on their travels.

It is 602 minutes since Boro last scored away from the Riverside but McClaren remains upeat.

He admitted his side's failure to find the net away from home is a cause for concern.

"We can't continue to not score away," said McClaren, whose side face a trip to Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday. "We know we can score because we can do it at home.

"We are in the trenches. Nothing seems to be going our way. We concede goals through deflections and when we create chances the ball doesn't go in the net.

"We have to battle though, and adopt a seige mentality."

McClaren, meanwhile, last night insisted Massimo Maccarone is happy on Teesside.

The Italian striker has been demanding a recall to the first team after finding himself on the substitutes' bench of late.

The Boro chief recalled Maccarone to the starting line-up at Blackburn, but again the £8.15m signing struggled to create an impact.

And McClaren, who witnessed Maccarone waste an easy chance in the first half that would have given his side the lead, said: "We have sorted that problem out now. He feels he has been misquoted and that other people have said things on his behalf.

"We have talked about it and there's no problem with Massimo."

He added: "We had a few chances, like Massimo's, and we have to get on the end of crosses whizzing across the box."

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness was jubilant after the victory - it could have been more but 17-year-old's James McEveley's superb 25-yard drive struck the crossbar.

Souness said: ''I thought in the first 45 minutes it looked like two tired teams - the holiday period has taken its toll - and I said to my players at half-time that if they could just step up another gear we would win this game and that's how it turned out.

''Losing Ugo Ehiogu was an enormous blow to them, but we had some really good performances in the second half.

''Andy Cole was outstanding and Yorke got a good goal - how many times have you seen one of them step over the ball, pick up the pass from the other and score, although on this occasion we got a bit of luck with the bounce of the ball?

''You have to be happy with eight points from four games over Christmas. It has been a good holiday season for us other than two hamstring injuries for Damien Duff and Craig Short.''

* Birmingham look set to complete the signing of French World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry today.

The Barclaycard Premiership club have called a press conference for 3pm at St Andrews when the Bordeaux forward is expected to be unveiled.

Dugarry is understood to be currently having talks with Blues officials, who have pledged to help manager Steve Bruce overcome his current injury crisis by making funds available to strengthen the squad.

The only stumbling block could be over whether Dugarry initially joins Birmingham on loan or makes a permanent switch.

Birmingham would prefer it if Dugarry were allowed to come until the end of the season with a view to then extending his stay at St Andrew's if he impresses.

But Bordeaux are more keen on an instant sale and are looking for a fee of just under £1.5million.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.