Boro pair add to Mowbray puzzle
Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray faces a series of late selection decisions ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fourth round clash with Aldershot.
Full-back Justin Hoyte and striker Scott McDonald became the latest men to join the ranks of the walking wounded after last Friday night's 1-0 npower Championship defeat at Leicester.
Hoyte has a hip problem, while McDonald complained of a tight hamstring, and both will undergo tests before decisions are taken.
Central defender Jonathan Woodgate, who damaged a calf muscle in the 3-1 defeat at Derby on New Year's Day, is working his way back to full fitness, as is striker Ishmael Miller, who picked up an ankle ligament problem against Watford on January 12.
Utility man Andy Halliday underwent surgery on his broken nose on January 7 and like Woodgate and Miller, is being assessed, while midfielder Muzzy Carayol could return to the squad following knee surgery.
Striker Curtis Main (knee) is stepping up his comeback and Julio Arca (toe surgery) is expected to return to training in two to three weeks.
Danny Hylton returns from suspension for Aldershot.
Hylton bagged a hat-trick to help see off Rotherham 3-1 in the previous round, taking his tally in this season's competition to seven goals in three games.
But he was then shown a red card and has faced an agonising wait ever since to see if the Shots' January fixtures would survive the big freeze, with his three-match ban finally completed with the passing of Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Northampton.
Hylton's return is a timely one with fellow striker Dani Lopez ineligible for FA Cup action and now having returned to parent club Stevenage with his loan stay due to expire this weekend.
New loan signing Lionel Ainsworth made his bow as a second-half substitute in midweek and will be pushing for a full debut at the Riverside.
But fellow new boy Terrell Forbes is cup-tied having played in an earlier round for Chesterfield.
Source: PA
