Source: Northern_Echo
Middlesbrough squad ravaged by virus
MIDDLESBROUGH are without a number of senior players after a virus swept through the camp ahead of this evening's Championship home game with Preston.[LNB] Julio Arca and Gary O'Neil are both absent after going down with the same illness that kept Stephen McManus out of Saturday's draw with Reading.[LNB] To make matters worse, striker Scott McDonald is also unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury in training.[LNB] Lee Miller partners Chris Killen in attack, with Rhys Williams returning to central midfield after a one-match ban and Joe Bennett expected to line up in an unorthodox left-midfield role.[LNB] McManus is fit enough to take his place at centre-half, and the Scot will partner David Wheater in the back four.[LNB] Preston centre-half Sean St Ledger makes his first return to the Riverside after an unsuccessful loan spell on Teesside earlier in the season.[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Jones; Hoyte, McManus, Wheater, Pogatetz; Franks, R Williams, Robson, Bennett; Miller, Killen.[LNB] Subs: Coyne (gk), Taylor, Riggott, Lita, Grounds, Naughton, Park.[LNB] PRESTON (4-4-2): Lonergan; Hart, St Ledger, Chilvers, Davidson; James, Chaplow, Carter, Wallace; Brown, Mellor.[LNB] Subs: Henderson, Sedgwick, Jones, Ward, Parkin, Barton, Proctor.[LNB]
