Kilgallon should make Boro squad

Middlesbrough hope to have central defender Matthew Kilgallon in the squad for the npower Championship clash with Sheffield United. The Teessiders are working to finalise the 26-year-old's loan switch from neighbours Sunderland in time for him to be available. However, skipper Gary O'Neil, who played the second half of last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Leicester, is struggling with illness and a knee problem. Manager Gordon Strachan has been hit too by the loss of defender Seb Hines, who has suffered a reaction to his first 90 minutes since last September on his return from a serious ankle injury for the reserves in midweek, and he is to see a specialist. Kevin Thomson (fractured fibula), Willo Flood (dislocated knee), Jonathan Franks (herniated disc) and Rhys Williams (pelvic injury) remain on the sidelines, although Tony McMahon (thigh) has returned to training.

Source: PA