MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Aitor Karanka has doubts over strikers Cristhian Stuani and Jordan Rhodes ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Everton.
Stuani limped out out last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Place with a groin problem, while Rhodes suffered a knock to his knee in training on Thursday and both are being assessed.
Gaston Ramirez came off the bench against Palace after - like Stuani - only arriving back from international duty with Uruguay the previous day, and he will hope for a recall.
Otherwise only long-term absentees James Husband (dislocated shoulder), Fabio da Silva (knee) and Grant Leadbitter (hernia surgery) are still missing.
Spaniard Karanka will go head-to-head with Toffees coach Ronald Koeman having admired him from afar in his glory days as a player at Barcelona.
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He said: "He never played against my team - I was younger! But I know Ronald Koeman as a player was amazing.
"I played as a central defender and for me, he was an example. Those years when he played at Barcelona, they won the Champions League here at Wembley, he scored, so he is a good reference."
Middlesbrough likely (4-4-1-1):
Valdes; Barragán, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Clayton, Forshaw, Stuani, Fischer, Downing, Negredo.
Everton likely (5-4-1): Stekelenburg; Jagielka, Williams, Coleman, Holgate, Baines, Barry, Gueye, Mirallas, Bolasie, Lukaku.
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