MIDDLESBROUGH defender Gareth Southgate is hoping to shake off a knock in time to make his first return to Aston Villa on Saturday.

The 31-year-old centre-back picked up what is thought to be a minor problem while on duty for England in the 1-1 weekend draw with Sweden at Old Trafford.

But Southgate yesterday reported back for treatment at Boro's Rockliffe Park training base in Hurworth in a bid to remove any fears that he might miss the visit to his old haunt.

Southgate, who quit Villa in the summer in a £6.5m deal, has already admitted that he is bracing himself to run the gauntlet from fans resentful of the former skipper's suggestions that their club lacked ambition.

England colleague and central defensive partner Ugo Ehiogu, who was caught up in similar controversy before his £8m move from Villa to Boro last season, silenced the boo boys when he scored on his return in a 1-1 draw in February.

Boro first-team coach Steve Harrison and goalkeeping specialist Paul Barron became fellow Villa defectors when they agreed to join manager Steve McClaren's backroom team, and their presence at the Riverside Stadium -- along with that of Ehiogu - helped to sway Southgate towards a move to Teesside.

Meanwhile, Boro duo Mark Schwarzer and Paul Okon were on duty in Australia's stormy 1-1 draw with world and European champions France in Melbourne on Sunday.

Bordeaux striker Christophe Dugarry, eyed by Boro early this season, sustained a serious knee ligament injury in a challenge with Australia's Wolves defender Kevin Muscat, who accused Arsenal's French winger Robert Pires of spitting in his face.

Goalkeeper Schwarzer and midfielder Okon are away from Boro for a month and are now preparing to face either Brazil, Uruguay or Colombia in a two-legged World Cup play-off.

Schwarzer is likely to walk straight back into Boro's starting line-up on his return, but unsettled Okon faces showdown talks with McClaren over his future, after failing to win a regular place under the new Boro boss

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