Boro face coastal challenge

Middlesbrough are on the south coast and tackling fifth-placed Brighton at the Amex Stadium this weekend.

Manager Tony Mowbray was hoping experienced defender Jonathan Woodgate would be fit to return after missing the last couple of games with hamstring trouble.

Meanwhile, Adam Reach (ankle), Ishmael Miller (groin), Kevin Thomson (knee) and Stuart Parnaby (jaw) are also back in training for the visitors.

But Justin Hoyte (hamstring), Lukas Jutkiewicz (knee ligament) and Merouane Zemmama (hamstring) remain out alongside long-term injury victims Mustapha Carayol (knee), Curtis Main (knee), Rhys Williams (ankle) and Julio Arca (toe).

"They have some good players and play an expansive game," Mowbray told Boro's official website. "They're a really high-energy football team and both full-backs pretty much play as wingers.

"They've got some very, very good players, especially in the midfield and attacking areas," he added. "We're going to have to be at our best to go there and get a result.'But if we can repeat our performance from last year, we'll make it difficult for them."

Brighton have striker Craig Mackail-Smith back from a hamstring strain while midfielder Andrew Crofts and winger Will Buckley also return from the same condition. But striker Will Hoskins is still out of action.

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