CITY boss Stuart Pearce is expected to name an unchanged side for the trip to Middlesbrough.
Apart from Claudio Reyna (broken ankle) and Danny Mills (shin) who are definitely ruled out, Pearce reported no more than a few bumps and bruises from Wednesday’s defiant performance against Chelsea.
It means Nedum Onuoha should continue at full-back, with Sun Jihai operating alongside Joey Barton in midfield as City look to pick up their first points of the festive period.
After seeing his side lose the first two matches of their four-match festive programme, Pearce knows the barren streak must be brought to an end at the Riverside if City are to mount a credible challenge for a European spot.
“In any walk of life, if you put that much effort into your job and don’t get anything for it, it is very disappointing,” said Pearce.
“Joey was excellent, as was Sun Jihai. As a manager they have given me a lift and now it is my job to lift their heads off the floor.
“If they play with the same endeavour and work-rate, we will get something at Middlesbrough.”
Boro boss Steve McClaren’s injury problems have increased further ahead of the game after midfielder Fabio Rochemback was ruled out of the next two games with a calf problem.
Skipper Gareth Southgate is also a doubt with a dead leg picked up in the 2-0 Boxing Day defeat by Blackburn, while Szilard Nemeth will be missing again with his hamstring strain.
Youngster James Morrison has recovered from concussion and Gaizka Mendieta has suffered no reaction after his return from a calf problem, while long-term absentees Stewart Downing and Ray Parlour (both knee) are expected to return for the reserves next month.
Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Jones, Parnaby, Queudrue, Pogatetz, Riggott, Southgate, Ehiogu, Bates, Wheater, Doriva, Mendieta, Morrison, Johnson, Kennedy, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone.
Manchester City (from): James, De Vlieger, Onuoha, Sun, Sommeil, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Jordan, Sinclair, Croft, Barton, Ireland, Musampa, Cole, Vassell, Wright-Phillips, Fowler.
Last season: Middlebrough 3 City 2
Key opponent: Yakubu - Powerful forward who has settled well at Boro
Prediction: Boro 1 City 1
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
You can get 7/1 on City to win 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.
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This is more of a must win game so as to stay in contention for Europe,its almost like a six pointer.
Come on you BLUES!
why do we have to play one of our bogey teams during the worst run of the season. backs to the wall time city, we need a result. all the best for the new year everyone.
Get, vassell back up front where he belongs.
My team for the game would be :james,thatcher, dunne,distin,ouoha, musampa hasn't played for a long time so i think we should play him, jihai,barton, sinclair, cole and vassell
Thatcher does not deserve to keep his place. We need Stephen Jordan back. He is a far more creative player than the clumsy Thatcher.
Okay, for all those who have a 'downer' on Thatcher & Jordan at the moment, how about this: James. Sun (left back), Distin, Dunne, Onuoha (right back). Vassell (left-sided attack), Barton, Ireland, Sinclair. BWP & Cole. De Vlieger, Thatcher, Croft, Ishmael Miller & Fowler. Why not start with Miller on the left. Does anyone know how he's been performing in the reserves of late?
unchanged side !! Sibierski went off injured on Wed and isnt in the listed squad (not that i'm upset).
The team is a ajoke at the momment. How can Ben Thatcher be getting a game. Despite this the defence give few chances away but when we do James lets them. We have 3 times the shots on goal against wigan except we lose 4-3. 3 Clean sheets all season, joke!.
Pearce has done well with one of the poorest squads in the Prembut now he has to prove himself in the transfer market. If he cant find players better than Trev Sinclar, Thatcher then he is no use to us.
Barton is not all that but perhaps with some better midfielders that complement his chest thumping then he will develop.
Come on Pearce when was the last time we beat a team above us.3 home defeats and 2 nil nil draws its been poor fare. We have only beat struggling teams.
Come on pearce give us a new year boost.
He was happy with the Chelsea performance but how many blackburn westbrom wigan newcastle arsenal performaces where all we ad to do was play to a reasonable standard to win are we going to have to put up with. Its a poor Premiership this season thats the only thing that keeps us in the top half but 70% of teams can't put 2 results together. Are we one of them.
Yes, Joey and Sun do provide a great work rate in the center of midfields but where's the creativeness going to come from?!
yes..and then three points against Spurs
I note there is no Sibierski in the "possibles". A big thank goodness for that.
3-1 City; it's time to break the Boro spell. Come on City!!!
If Dunne and Distin get it together and control the Borough front line, we should be able to get a win out of this. Have at 'em boyz.
Can't ever remember City beating Middlesboro.They are our real bogey club. However if we can do them it may be the catalyst for City to turn things around and get back up the table and into Europe.
Stephen Jordan must be wondering just how bad Thatch has to be before he gets his recall. We'd be better off with Carol Thatcher - at least she marks her territory! Psycho has to accommodate Stephen Ireland in the team - we need his guile, maybe at the expense of the revitalised and omnipresent aerial threat that is SuperSibs (heavy on the irony!). One more game to go and then go get us some reinforcements Psycho. No beggaring about during January - go get your targets before you've finished singing Auld Langs Eyne (dodging spelling!)and improve our threadbare squad before we lose too many more matches and see our charge for Europe reduced to a limp. January is a BIG month - we can beat Spurs, see off S cunthorpe and then smash the Mighty Reds before shoving it up Little Sam and his hideous Trotters before seeing who we are playing the 4th Rnd of the FA Cup. That then makes the rest of our season a tad more interesting. Congrats to Joey who is on for Player of the Year 2005/06 so far and condolences to dear old SWP whose career has died at Chelski. Come back Shauny all is forgiven. Jose insulted you by not even having you on the bench on your home coming with strong emphasis on the HOME element of that sentence. Be a big little man and come back to those who really appreciate you where you can once again flourish under Capt Psycho.
Middlesborough are our bogey team we will gat nothing at the riverside. That will make the game on wednesday against Spurs even more important. For God's sake get some decent players in the transfer window.
The Sun also rises. Sun to score if he makes the starting 11.