Read more about Middlesbrough.
Duo's return gives Southgate a poser
Middlesbrough, 12:43, October 29, 2008 ,
Gareth Southgate has a good selection headache for Middlesbrough's clash with Manchester City as Mido and Julio Arca are available.
It is not often the Boro boss has a problem with regards fitting his available players into the starting XI, but that appears to be the case ahead of the game at the Riverside on Wednesday evening.
Mido had a slight groin problem ahead of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Blackburn as Tuncay Sanli made an instant return to action. And the Turk's impressive display coupled with a goal for Afonso Alves should see them start the game again, despite Mido's return to fitness.
Arca has not played all season due to an ankle injury he picked up in a pre-season game at Hibernian, but he is now fit and ready to return. The Argentinian could even start as Boro have lacked the creative spark in the middle of the field which he can provide.
The defence will probably remain unchanged from the Rovers game as Justin Hoyte and Robert Huth are still sidelined due to injury problems.
Boro go into the game aiming to repeat the display which saw them crush City 8-1 on the final day of last season. However the opposition will be a very different proposition from last May with Mark Hughes now in charge and the likes of Brazilian star Robinho in their line up.
Southgate feels Boro's chances of a victory will be based on how well they can keep possession to stop City's playmakers running riot.
He said: "I want my team to play without fear, and I want them to pass the ball better than they have in the last few weeks.
He added: "If we want to develop as a group, we have to improve the way we keep possession of the ball.
"Sometimes, there's an anxiety to get the ball forward early at our ground, but often that means that we concede possession too cheaply. If you do that against good teams, you don't see the ball again for quite a long time.
"People talk about courage, but we have to be brave enough to want the ball.
"Supporters like to see players flying into tackles, but the most courageous thing you can do on a football field is take the ball under pressure."