GARETH SOUTHGATE believes the decision to give Middlesbrough's crop of tired players an Easter break was justified as manager Steve McClaren attempts to halt an alarming slide down the Premiership table.

Boro's fit playing staff were given a week's break after the embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Southampton at the Riverside Stadium on March 20 in a bid to recharge their batteries.

McClaren took the decision after a run of two wins from 12 league games and a record of just ten points from a possible 36.

It is a depressing turnaround in fortunes for a club who have now dropped from fifth, and in contention for a Champions League place, to ninth. They are now weighing up an appearance in the InterToto Cup in July.

Boro have used the holiday period to try to make sure three of their main players are back from injury - a move that looks to have paid off.

Striker Mark Viduka, out since Boxing Day, has recovered from a hamstring and back problem.

After three months out, influential midfielder George Boateng is also set for a return at Crystal Palace tomorrow after shaking off a broken toe. Ray Parlour is also close to recovering from his back problem.

Club skipper Southgate said: "Anybody who was at the Southampton game will have seen that despite the fact everybody gave everything there wasn't anything left in the tank.

"The players who haven't been playing have been working hard getting their fitness back. For the rest of the squad, who have played around 40 games, the time was right to get a few days away."

Despite welcoming back a few big-hitters, McClaren's preparations have been hampered by news that Joseph Job (knee) and Michael Reziger (ankle) will be missing at Selhurst Park.

Meanwhile, both Boro and Everton have been fined by the Football Association and warned about their future conduct after the "mass confrontation" when they met at the Riverside in January.

Both sides have been told to pay £8,000 after admitting to failing to control their players in the 1-1 draw.

An FA statement read last night: "At a Disciplinary Commission hearing today, Middlesbrough FC and Everton FC were both severely reprimanded, warned as to their future conduct and fined £8,000.

"The clubs had admitted breaches of FA Rule E22a for failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.

"The charges related to a mass confrontation during the Premier League match at the Riverside Stadium on January 16, 2005."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.