Duo banned for Boro

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray's options will be limited by suspension and injury ahead of Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round derby trip to Sunderland.

Mowbray will have to do without Kevin Thomson and former Black Cats midfielder Julio Arca after they were sent off during the 3-1 npower Championship defeat at Coventry last weekend.

Keeper Jason Steele remains a doubt with a thigh strain, although Danny Coyne shook off a calf problem to play at the Ricoh Arena with teenager Connor Ripley standing by.

Striker Bart Ogbeche will miss out once again with the hamstring strain which has kept him out of the last two games.

Nicky Bailey is the only name on the long-term casualty list with the midfielder almost four weeks into a recovery period of up to eight weeks after suffering medial ligament damage on New Year's Eve.