Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta is out for the rest the season after damaging a cruciate ligament during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.
The 30-year-old Spanish international is to undergo surgery to repair his anterior cruciate after a seemingly innocuous clash with Patrik Berger.
He is expected to have the operation within a matter of weeks after the injury is allowed to settle down and will then face a long period of rehabilitation which will sideline him for the rest of the current campaign.