MIDDLESBROUGH
Jones
Hoyte Taylor Huth Wheater
Aliadiere O'Neil Bates Downing
Tuncay King

Heskey Agbonlahor
A Young Barry Petrov Milner
Shorey Cuellar Davies L Young
Friedel
ASTON VILLA

Middlesbrough subs (from): Turnbull, McMahon, Grounds, Walker Shawky, Hines, Emnes, Johnson
Aston Villa subs (from): Guzan, Knight, Gardner, Clark, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Carew

MIDDLESBROUGH

David Wheater returned to training on Thursday and will bolster the Boro back four allowing Matthew Bates to revert to his holding midfield role. Gareth Southgate's major selection poser is whether to keep faith with Marvin Emnes in attack or hand Marlon King another chance to impress. Didier Digard hasn't recovered in time to be considered while Afonso Alves' broken metatarsal further reduces Southgate's options.
Suspensions: none
Injuries: Digard (groin), Alves (foot), Riggott (ankle), Pogatetz (knee)
Leading league scorer: Tuncay 6
Last five league games: LLLDW
Next game: v West Ham (h) 24/04/09

ASTON VILLA

Midfielder Gareth Barry and centre-half Carlos Cuellar are both doubts after suffering illness. Former Boro full-back Luke Young is set to start despite incurring a recurrence of a foot problem last week. Otherwise Martin ONeill will keep faith with the side that lost at Fulham last Saturday.
Suspensions: none
Injuries: Bouma (ankle)
Leading league scorer: Agbonlahor 12
Last five league games: LWDDD
Key player: Ashley Young - The 23-year-old has struggled to maintain early season form but his pace makes him a defenders' nightmare.

Last season: 0-3 (L)
League head to head: Middlesbrough 39, Villa 58, Draws 30
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds) 33, Y129, R6, Av 4.09
Last Middlesbrough game: v Everton (H) 26/12/08 0-1 (W) Y6 R0
Odds: H13/8,A15/8, D12/5

It's a fact: Villa have scored a total of ten goals in their last three visits to the Riverside
Comment by Andy Richardson: A repeat of this season's heroics at Villa Park could tee-up Boro's great escape.
Prediction: 1-0