TNT Sports
Southgate and Viduka out
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Published 20/04/2006 at 19:29 GMT+1
Captain Gareth Southgate and striker Mark Viduka will miss Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup semi-final, first leg against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday. Former England defender Southgate pulled out with an ankle injury and Australian international Viduka has a thi
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Middlesbrough were already without Southgate's central defensive partner Chris Riggott through suspension and the injured Gaizka Mendieta and Emanuel Pogatetz.
"We have coped with injuries before and we have to cope again," manager Steve McClaren told the club's website on Wednesday.
"It is a big loss but we cannot control that so people have to step in, step forward and take their opportunities.
Ugo Ehiogu will lead the team in Southgate's absence, with Matthew Bates and David Wheater the main candidates to play alongside him in the middle of the defence.
Another option for McClaren is to switch Franck Queudrue to the centre and bring in Andrew Taylor at left-back.
Boro are spoilt for choice to replace Viduka, with strikers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Massimo Maccarone and Malcolm Christie among the squad who flew out to Bucharest.
Middlesbrough fight back to qualify
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