Cardiff City Vs Middlesbrough, Sat 6 Mar 2010

Cardiff will be without Peter Whittingham and Mark Kennedy for the visit of fellow play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough.

Whittingham, the Bluebirds' top scorer this term with 19 goals, misses out with a torn groin muscle while left-back Kennedy is sidelined with a calf injury.

Goalkeeper David Marshall is fully fit again following a knee ligament injury and could replace Peter Enckelman between the sticks.

Adam Matthews is also hoping to return to the side but fellow defender Gabor Gyepes is struggling with a back problem sustained in the recent defeat at Preston.

The Bluebirds have been severely hampered by injuries this term and continue to be without Joe Ledley (hips), Stephen McPhail (ribs), Mark Hudson (ankle), Miguel Comminges (thigh), Josh Magennis (broken fibula) and Kelvin Etuhu (ankle).

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan will make a late decision on striker Scott McDonald.

The Australia international had injections to address the after-effects of hernia surgery when he saw his specialist last week and will be assessed over the next 24 hours.

Defender Emanuel Pogatetz remains a doubt with the knee problem which kept him out of Austria's friendly victory over Denmark in midweek.

However, there is better news of long-term absentees Chris Riggott (hamstring) and Rhys Williams (pelvic injury) with both men back in training.

Tony McMahon (stress fracture of the foot) continues his recovery while Seb Hines (ankle and medial ligament) and Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) remain on the sidelines.

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