MARK VIDUKA and Jonathan Woodgate both boarded the team flight destined for London, yet it was Middlesbrough's muted Mad Dog that manager Gareth Southgate was left hailing ahead of tonight's date with Tottenham.

Viduka is in line to make his first appearance for Boro since suffering a broken toe in the win over Newcastle United on October 22 after coming through a couple of weeks' training unscathed.

Woodgate has shrugged off the illness that forced him to retire early from Saturday's defeat by Manchester United, and is likely to retain his place alongside Emanuel Pogatetz and Robert Huth as part of a three-man central defence.

Pogatetz, given the Mad Dog nickname because of his approach to the game last season, has shown his true worth in his second year at the Riverside Stadium.

The Austrian, signed by Steve McClaren as a left-back, would have been afforded the responsibility of forging an understanding with Huth at the heart of the defence had Woodgate failed to recover from sickness in time.

Woodgate has travelled to White Hart Lane, but Southgate, an international centre-half himself before he decided to take the step into management, feels Pogatetz's displays meant a Woodgate absence would not have been as big a blow as it could have been.

Southgate insists Pogatetz will only get better with age and experience.

"I have to say Emanuel has been an absolute revelation for us. Woody has taken the plaudits but Manny has been outstanding," said Southgate of a 23-year-old who has arguably been Middlesbrough's most consistent performer.

"He did show some potential last year at times but it is the control he is showing now that has transformed him. Last year he felt he had to live up to the Mad Dog reputation. He is a strong lad and an aggressive player but he has shown that control this year and that has been very impressive.

"It's lifted his performance. He will run through a brick wall, he will give you everything every game, his drive and his passion are fantastic but you need emotional control and he's had that this season."

After Pogatetz had signed in the summer of last year he was handed a 24-week ban - later reduced to four months - by the Russian Football Union when he broke an opponent's leg in two places during a loan spell with Spartak Moscow.

He was then given two suspensions during Austria's World Cup qualifying games, one of which followed a yellow card received after a foul on David Beckham.

The other arrived when Pogatetz was sent off for a clash with Northern Ireland's Damien Johnson, while he also had four yellow cards and one red in the first four months at Boro.

This season has not been without bookings - he has three to date - but they have not been for poor temperament, something he was renowned for last season.

A change of approach from Pogatetz has been down to anger management classes and those even led to him calling for Cristiano Ronaldo to change his ways after the World Cup winker dived to win a penalty for Manchester United at the Riverside.

Southgate said: "I don't think the Mad Dog name did him any favours. He's quite a sensitive guy and that Mad Dog side has disappeared completely.

"At Villa he was very unlucky to be booked. It has shown me how much he's matured. But he has to take the credit. He has been a huge bonus for me."

With Woodgate available, Southgate has the decision of whether to persist with the three-man defence that has had mixed fortunes in the last two games or leave one of his trio of centre-backs out.

The likeliood is that, reflecting on the draw earned in Middlesbrough's last away trip at Aston Villa, he could stick with that formation, although that would mean leaving James Morrison out again.

Morrison is hoping to play a starting role against Spurs, having emerged from the bench as a replacement for Woodgate and struck a sweet volley beyond Edwin van der Sar.

"I want to play more often than not this season and score goals," said the Darlington youngster. "Spurs is another tough game and they have some tough players. They are doing well at home and we will have to fight and hopefully I will start."

Tonight will be the first of a clutch of fixtures between now and the end of the January transfer window in which Viduka has the opportunity to prove he is worth a new contract.

His exisiting deal is due to expire in June and Newcastle are known to be still keen on recruiting the player's services on the cheap.

Apart from Viduka, Middlesbrough's squad tonight is the same that lost to United, while Tottenham could ask former Newcastle man Jermaine Jenas to start after their 3-0 crushing at north London rivals Arsenal.

Jenas had recovered from a calf injury but was only on the bench for the Emirates Stadium clash, while skipper Ledley King overcame a suspected virus to play.

* Pascal Chimbonda believes Tottenham's form at White Hart Lane will put them in contention for European qualification, despite their troubles away from home.

Spurs have not won away in the Barclays Premiership this season but have a strong record at home.

Six Premiership away wins in their last campaign put Spurs in the shake-up for a Champions League place and, with plenty of other teams struggling for away form, Chimbonda feels maintaining their home form will keep them in contention this time around.

''We take a lot of points at home, we play very well so I think even though we are struggling away we can still finish in the top six and qualify for Europe,'' said the 27-year-old France full-back.

Chimbonda featured in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal and is pleased to be back at home for the clash against Boro and Saturday's visit of Charlton.

''We have a lot of games left in the season and plenty of time to turn it around,'' he added.

''We now have two home games in a row and we can climb the league if we win them. It's good to have them so soon."