Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough (Team News)

Only a Cardiff City victory today would seem to keep our hopes of automatic promotion alive, and we have the opportunity to put Norwich City under pressure for their trip to Portsmouth tonight – their more difficult fixture of the two remaining.

Michael Chopra again looks set to be on the bench as he continues his return from a hamstring tear. Mark Hudson though could be restored alongside Dekel Keinan after his knee ligament damage – allowing Kevin McNaughton to revert to a more usual full-back role.

It seems likely that the midfield and strikers will be unchanged for City, meaning a place on the bench at most for the likes of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (on loan from Arsenal) and Jason Koumas.

Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater should be fit again after his hotel mishap last week, but Tom Heaton remains in pole position to start – dependent on the condition of his niggly hamstring problem.



iddlesbrough do have some injury concerns of their own to consider with Scott McDonald doubtful (hamstring) and defenders Stephen McManus and Tony McMahon(both ankle) facing late fitness tests.

There could be run-outs for Jonathan Franks and Luke Williams, but both are very short on match fitness after lengthy lay-offs while, Joe Bennett is unavailability with a virus.

Definitely out of the game are goalkeeper Danny Coyne (hand), Seb Hines (broken jaw), Merouane Zemmama (hamstring) and Nicky Bailey (ankle ligaments).