Middlesbrough striker Szilard Nemeth was yesterday named in the Slovakia squad for the final World Cup qualifier against Macedonia on Sunday.

Nemeth, who caught the eye when he came on as a second-half substitute in Boro's dreadful 3-1 home defeat by Southampton on Saturday, was among the goals in Slovakia's 4-2 win over Moldova almost four weeks ago.

Neither Slovakia nor Macedonia can qualify from Group Four, with Sweden having already booked their place in the finals in Korea and Japan, and runners-up Turkey securing a play-off spot.

Nemeth, yet to start a Premiership game for Boro since his summer move from Inter Bratislava because of a lack of fitness following a hernia operation, is one of seven Riverside players on international duty this week.

Central defensive pairing Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu are in the senior England squad and striker Alen Boksic has been called up by Croatia for the crucial qualifier with Belgium, while Jonathan Greening and Mark Wilson feature in the England Under-21 party and Brian Close is with the Northern Ireland Under-21 set-up.

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