GAIZKA MENDIETA heads an alarming casualty list at Middlesbrough as manager Steve McClaren admits he hasn't a clue what his side will be against Fulham at the Riverside tonight.

McClaren's hope that a week-long family holiday in his native Spain would provide the perfect tonic for a tired Mendieta, backfired when he returned to Teesside with a virus.

The midfielder was unable to train yesterday and McClaren revealed: "He's been laid up in bed and we're hoping for a miraculous recovery.''

McClaren, whose midfield options are further limited by the loss of Jonathan Greening with a back injury, is set to recall Juninho - rested for Saturday's FA Cup third-round victory over Notts County - and fellow Brazilian Doriva, who is ready to return after being out since the end of November with an ankle problem.

Australian Under-23 goalkeeper Brad Jones is poised to make his League bow for Boro, with compatriot Mark Schwarzer still suffering a back injury and Carlo Nash facing a lengthy lay-off after undergoing a finger operation.

To compound McClaren's problems, striker Michael Ricketts is rated very doubtful with a knee injury.

The Boro boss, already resigned to being without striker Malcolm Christie for the rest of the season with a broken leg, admitted: "To have the likes of Schwarzer, Greening, Mendieta, Christie and Ricketts out is a big slice of our experienced players. I haven't clue what the team will be.

"Like Schwarzer, Greening has done his back - and he goes into hospital on Thursday to have his tonsils removed! We're hoping that will only keep him out for two or three weeks.

"But Carlo has had an operation on his finger and he'll be out quite a while; we're talking months rather than weeks. It's a big blow when we've got such a busy month - eight games in all and four of them against Arsenal!

"Juninho and Doriva are back in the squad and it's good to see Joseph Job back as well - we're going to need him.''

Boro are 15th, only three points clear of a relegation spot, while Fulham are ten places higher but just seven points better off having played a game more.

"It's a tight league and any side who can go on a run of three or four wins can also climb to fifth,'' said McClaren.

"Fulham have been the surprise package this season but we knew from the first day when they beat us that they were a good team.

"Chris Coleman has done a good job. He's got a good squad with talented players, but sustaining what they've done is going to be difficult. They need to hold on to Louis Saha and I think they are going to do that.''

Confirmation came from Fulham owner Mohamed Fayed, who accused Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson of unsettling the French striker.

Saha is an £8m target for United, but Fayed said: "I have a clear message for Sir Alex Ferguson and anyone else interested. Read my lips: 'Louis Saha is not for sale.'

"I'm fed up with Sir Alex trying to disrupt my club and unsettling players. Obviously he needs a top-quality striker, but he can't have mine.'