Stoke v MIDDLESBROUGH: Southgate waiting on late tests ahead of key Potters trip

Tight spot: The 'Boro manger is running out of games to avoid the dropMiddlesbroughwill be without suspended midfielder Matthew Bates for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League trip to Stoke.Bates will serve a one-match ban after being sent off for two bookable offences during the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth last weekend.Skipper Emanuel Pogatetz will undergo a late fitness test on a knee injury which forced him out of the Pompey game, while Jeremie Aliadiere is also a doubt with an unspecified knock.Gary O'Neil and Justin Hoyte (both groin) are back in training, but Didier Digard (knee and thigh) and Chris Riggott (knee) remain on the sidelines.Provisional squad: Jones, Turnbull, Hoyte, McMahon, Taylor, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, Arca, O'Neil, Downing, Aliadiere, Walker, A. Johnson, Tuncay, Emnes, King, Alves, Franks.CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE WEEKEND TEAM NEWS IN THE BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE  

Source: Daily_Mail