Middlesbrough's record signing Afonso Alves will not play again this season. Tests carried out on Tuesday morning revealed the Brazilian, a £12.7million capture from Heerenveen, fractured a metatarsal during Monday night's 3-1 derby defeat at Newcastle and will miss Saturday's home clash with Aston Villa and the final day trip to West Ham.
Alves was hurt in a first-half challenge by Nicky Butt, which cost the midfielder a booking, and was carried off on a stretcher with the score at 1-1.