Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is keeping is fingers crossed for better news on the injury front as he attempts to halt his side's slide.On a black day for the north-east's three Premier League clubs, the Teessiders only escaped a place in the bottom three on Saturday evening courtesy of Sunderland's 7-1 at hammering at Everton.

But Boro's 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, which left them without a league win in nine attempts and just three points from a possible 27, heaped further pressure on a young manager whose continued backing from chairman Steve Gibson is the envy of many of his counterparts.

That Southgate's mission has been complicated by a succession of injuries is in little doubt, and to that end, he will hope to have two key men back at his disposal as his side heads for Reading next Saturday.

Striker Mido and midfielder Julio Arca have missed much of the campaign to date, the Egypt international with a troublesome groin injury and the Argentinian with a medial ligament problem.

However, both men are close to a return and that will give Southgate greater options just when he needs them most.

Mido, a £6million summer signing from Tottenham, proved a big hit in his early games for the club, scoring on his debut at Fulham and then repeating the feat in the 2-2 derby draw with Newcastle in his next outing.

However, his groin problem has sidelined him for all but one of the last six games, a run which has brought just two points and three goals.

Southgate said: "Because of the nature of the injury, it is not like a torn muscle or a ligament injury where you can put a definite time on it.

"He has been back close to full training a couple of times and then had a reaction to it.

"He feels a couple of times he has taken one step forward and two steps back.

"He has just has to be patient and we have got to be patient in waiting for it to heal.

"Sometimes you can push things too much and you just have to wait for them to heal."

Boro may have to wait for the 24 year-old, but Arca has declared himself fit and ready to go back into battle at the Madejski Stadium if called upon.

The 26-year-old has not played a senior game since suffering his knee injury against former club Sunderland on September 22, and his invention from central midfield has been sorely missed.

Arca said: "I need one more week to train with the team, so hopefully if everything goes well, I can be involved at the weekend.

"The knee is doing well at the moment. It is still hurting a little bit, but everything is on course and I am happy with the progress.

"I am training with the team and slowly getting my confidence back, and am desperate to get back in action.

"But I know I have to be careful because I don't want to return unless I am definitely 100 per cent fit and confident.

"I will be training hard this week and hopefully involved with the team at Reading."

Arca, however, could yet make his return for the reserves at Bolton on Wednesday night with the Premier League clash with Arsenal on December 8 perhaps a more realistic target for a first senior start.

He said: "I am not saying I am definitely going to play because I might not be ready for a full 90 minutes, but I could get involved with the Reserves at Bolton on Wednesday.

"I am looking forward to starting against Arsenal if that is possible, and obviously there will be plenty of games to play between Christmas and the New Year."

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