Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will be hoping his side can display some mettle when they welcome Aston Villa to the Riverside Stadium in this weekend's Premiership clash.

Middlesbrough are hovering just above the relegation zone and a poor run of form has rekindled fears of a relegation battle among the Riverside faithful come the final third of the season. Just three points from last eight games has seen Boro sit just two points above the drop zone.

With the team failing to hit the back of the net regularly, manager Gareth Southgate will have his hands full keeping his side out of the relegation zone. Injuries to a number of key players has not helped the club with Mido, Woodgate, Arca and Rochemback spending long spells on the sidelines. However Southgate will be able to make use of the services of Mido and Arca who have recovered from groin strain and knee ligament injury while Arca could make a comeback on the weekend.

Meanwhile Aston Villa will be looking to chalk up a third successive victory on the weekend as they looking to move up the table and pose a serious challenge for a European spot. Villa are currently sitting eight in the league table with 21 points from 12 matches.

Keeper Thomas Sorensen will be available for the clash against Boro though with Liverpool agreeing to turn Scott Carson's loan move into a permanent one, the Danish keeper's future looks bleak under Martin O'Neill.

Villa had won the fixture last season with a comfortable margin of 3-1 and O'Neill will be delighted with a similar result this time around.

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