Middlesbrough have lost Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta for the rest of the season after it was confirmed he had broken his foot.
The 32-year-old broke a metatarsal during training on Monday and he will now need surgery.
This is the second major injury for Mendieta during his stay on Teesside, as he missed the most of last season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Now he has been sidelined again and is unlikely to train again for three months.
The injury to Mendieta is likely to mean that right-sided starlet James Morrison - who has impressed hugely in recent weeks - will be given an extended run in the team, beginning with this Thursday's Uefa Cup quarter final, second leg clash with Basel.
Mendieta is the second player in the last week to be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after Austrian Emanuel Pogatetz was also ruled out after he broke his nose and cheekbone at Basel last Thursday.
The 32-year-old broke a metatarsal during training on Monday and he will now need surgery.
This is the second major injury for Mendieta during his stay on Teesside, as he missed the most of last season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Now he has been sidelined again and is unlikely to train again for three months.
The injury to Mendieta is likely to mean that right-sided starlet James Morrison - who has impressed hugely in recent weeks - will be given an extended run in the team, beginning with this Thursday's Uefa Cup quarter final, second leg clash with Basel.
Mendieta is the second player in the last week to be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after Austrian Emanuel Pogatetz was also ruled out after he broke his nose and cheekbone at Basel last Thursday.
