Injuries pile up for Venables ahead of cup tie

Manager of the month Venables, unbeaten in 12 games with Boro in League and Cup, is without eye-injury victim Christian Karembeu and has major doubts over striker Alen Boksic and defender Ugo Ehiogu

Boro's head coach is also awaiting fitness checks on defender Gianluca Festa and midfielder Paul Okon, who like Boksic are suffering groin problems.

Ehiogu picked up a knock during his point-saving heroics in Saturday's 1-1 draw with former club Aston Villa.

With Steve Vickers still on the injured list, Boro could be without three central defenders for what is sure to be a physical test against the Division One Dons.

Midfielder Karembeu has given Boro most concern since the visit to Villa left him unable to see out of one eye.

But Venables yesterday calmed fears that there might be lasting damage to the Frenchman's vision.

"He went to a specialist yesterday and he's got to go again tomorrow, so that rules him out,'' said Venables.

"Someone caught him across the eye and he's grazed the eyeball and can't see. But there won't be any permanent damage and he should be all right. He just needs a week to get over it.''

Nine-goal leading scorer Boksic was substituted against Villa because of fatigue, but Venables yesterday revealed that the injury-plagued Croatian is also struggling for fitness.

"He's had problems with his groin but he's kept playing,'' said Venables. "It's not a recurrence of anything, but prevention is better than cure sometimes.

"We just have to be careful that he doesn't do any more damage and we end up losing him for a longer period.''

With Noel Whelan still battling to throw off a back injury and Joseph-Desire Job out injured, Venables' attacking options will almost certainly be limited to Hamilton Ricard, Brian Deane and Andy Campbell.

A trip to Second Division Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday is the prize for tonight's winners but Venables, who makes his first professional visit to Selhurst since his controversial split with Crystal Palace two years ago, is acutely aware of the danger of another embarrassing Cup knock-out.

Wimbledon are something of a bogey side for Boro when it comes to cup competitions, and the omens don't look good for Venables.

The Dons beat Boro 1-0 at Selhurst in the third round of this season's Worthington Cup and forced a 0-0 draw at the Riverside a week ago.

They also won 1-0 at home to Boro in a replay at the same stage of the FA Cup five years ago - after a goalless encounter on Teesside!

A 4-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday, which precipitated the sacking yesterday of Hillsborough boss Paul Jewell, served as a further warning to Boro, and Venables stressed: "It's going to be a very tough game for us. They'll be buoyant after beating Wednesday.

"At the start of the season they were 20-1 to go up and I tipped them to be in the play-offs.

"They're a bit off the pace, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're there or thereabouts at the end.

"We understand the pitch is going to be very heavy and that will have a bearing on my thinking as regards team selection.''

Relegation-threatened Boro have drawn their last five matches in all competitions, but Venables insisted: "We try to win every game and we want to win this one.

"Winning is a habit we've got to try to get into, but I make no excuses for drawing. A little while ago, I think everyone would have been delighted with that.

"I've just got to play a game that I think suits the players here.

"We are throwing more people forward and we are making chances at home. I thought we also made a few good chances on Saturday and we should have had a certain penalty when Phil Stamp was brought down. That would have given us three points and done the trick.

"Everyone loves the Cup, but my stance is still the same. The League is more important to us.''

Boro (from): Schwarzer; Fleming, Ehiogu, Cooper, Festa, Gordon, O'Neill, Stamp, Ince, Okon, Campbell, Ricard, Deane, Mustoe, Whelan, Gavin, Hudson, Crossley (gk).

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