England winger Stewart Downing returns to the Middlesbrough squad for the first time since undergoing knee surgery, in tomorrow's Barclays Premiership clash with Wigan Athletic.
The 21-year-old is likely to be restricted to a place on the bench after being sidelined since August.
Captain Gareth Southgate could start after recovering from an ankle problem, while goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will hope for a recall after withdrawing his transfer request.
Doriva is back from suspension. But George Boateng (ankle), Franck Queudrue (knee), James Morrison (hip), Tony McMahon (shoulder), Szilard Nemeth (groin) and Malcolm Christie (foot) are still out.
New Wigan signings David Thompson and Neil Mellor go straight into the squad for the Riverside clash.
Stephane Henchoz and Paul Scharner are available again and Lee McCulloch and Alan Mahon should figure after returning to training yesterday following injury knocks.
However, manager Paul Jewell is still without David Connolly, Ryan Taylor, Emerson Thome, Steve McMillan and David Wright through injury, while Henri Camara is on African Nations' Cup duty with Senegal.
Middlesbrough squad: Jones, Schwarzer, Parnaby, Pogatetz, Taylor, Southgate, Ehiogu, Riggott, Bates, Wheater, Doriva, Mendieta, Cattermole, Downing, Rochemback, Parlour, Johnson, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone.
Provisional Wigan Athletic squad: Pollitt, Chimbonda, Jackson, Henchoz, Johansson, Mahon, McCulloch, Kavanagh, De Zeeuw, Francis, Scharner, Teale, Bullard, Skoko, Baines, Roberts, Thompson, Mellor, Filan.
