STEVE McCLAREN'S preparations for the crucial UEFA Cup first leg with Stuttgart have been severely hit by news neither Gaizka Mendieta nor James Morrison will be boarding this morning's flight to Germany.

The pair's withdrawal from the squad means McClaren will have to tinker with the side that proved so successful in defeating champions Chelsea at the weekend - with options restricted.

Worryingly Darlington-born Morrison is staying behind at Rockliffe Park to see a specialist on the hip injury suffered in the first half of Saturday's success over the Blues.

It is a further blow to the promising 19-year-old who only made his return to action that day after a month long lay-off with a hip and knee problem, that is thought to be unrelated to this latest setback.

No timescale is being put on the amount of games Morrison is going to be absent for but it seems unlikely he will be fit to face Preston in the FA Cup on Sunday either.

Mendieta could be back for the trip to Deepdale after suffering a slight pull to his hamstring in the final moments at the weekend.

There are no major concerns over his long-term fitness but to lose the Spaniard for the last 32 UEFA Cup tie in Stuttgart is a major blow, particularly given the form he showed against Chelsea.

Now McClaren must contemplate what team he is going to field in Germany, knowing ideally he would like to stick with the same lone-striker formation that proved so successful on Saturday.

That means, with full-back Tony McMahon back in the squad, Stuart Parnaby could be asked to fill the void left by Morrison on the right of midfield, with either McMahon or Andrew Davies operating defensively.

Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback is also in line to make his UEFA Cup debut for Boro after previously being ineligible because of the competition's rules following his summer switch from Sporting Lisbon.

Striker Mark Viduka (ill) and midfielder Lee Cattermole (hamstring) will again be missing for Boro in Germany, while Franck Queudrue and Ugo Ehiogu are back in training but have not travelled.

Whatever team McClaren does select tomorrow he is hoping to maintain an exceptional UEFA Cup record this season - as the only team in the competition not to have conceded a goal.

Versatile defender Parnaby has revealed the determination to continue in the sort of form that eased past Chelsea, rather than the team that lost so comprehensively to Aston Villa a week earlier.

"It's finding that consistency week in and week out," said Parnaby. "We haven't been able to do that but hopefully we can use this result and go on a bit of a run. It's a big three points for us and we must kick on and move away from the relegation area.

"Now we have got to go to Stuttgart and then Preston so we'll have to be ready. It's back to work but we've all got on our smile on our face again."

Meanwhile, George Boateng has been named in the provisional Holland squad for a friendly with Ecuador on March 1.

l Boro have confirmed that their FA Cup fifth round tie at Preston will kick-off at 2pm on Sunday because of their involvement in the UEFA Cup.

l Sam Allardyce is calling on his unsung Bolton side to prove they deserve to mix it with the rich and famous.

Wanderers play host to Marseille in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup tonight and the Bolton boss said: "If we overcame Marseille it would send a message to the whole of Europe, showing what we are about.

''I don't think people realise how big they are. You go there and you see 50,000 people supporting a team. Their history and tradition puts them alongside the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal."

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