BRAD GUZAN continue between the posts when Middlesbrough face neighbours Sunderland in the battle of the bottom two tomorrow night.

Boro boss Steve Agnew is resigned to being without first-choice goalkeeper Victor Valdes for the next couple of matches at least as the threat of relegation looms.

Valdes has missed the last two matches with a rib injury sustained against Burnley. And with no timescale on his return, his American understudy will stay in that position for a while yet.

Agnew’s disappointing start to his time in charge continued at Bournemouth on Saturday when Boro lost 4-0.

That result has heightened relegation concerns and there is now a nine-point gap to make up with five matches remaining. Even though they have a game in hand, that appears a tall order.

And with Manchester City next up on Sunday, followed by dates with Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool on the horizon, Boro are up against it.

Even if they deliver an incredible run of victories over the next few weeks, safety will be by no means certain after a dreadful run of form which has seen Boro fail to win since mid-December; a run of 16 Premier League matches.

Guzan has only played in the last two defeats to Arsenal and Bournemouth, conceding six goals. His previous outings in the league for Middlesbrough brought positive results.

He was in goal for the goalless draws with Leicester on January 2 and West Brom on August 28, while he was also the man between the sticks when Aitor Karanka’s side beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light a week earlier.

Agnew will have to reshuffle his pack again when the Black Cats head to Teesside. Gaston Ramirez’s stupid sending off means a rethink, while the hamstring which kept skipper Grant Leadbitter out of the trip to the south coast will be assessed today.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are urging fans to take their seats 15 minutes before kick-off tomorrow so they can pay tribute to former defender Ugo Ehiogu.

Ehiogu, a Tottenham coach who spent seven years playing at Middlesbrough, tragically died last week aged 44 and players will wear black armbands. There will be a minute’s applause beforehand too.

He will be on the cover of the matchday programme and there will be a video tribute to Ehiogu on the big screen.