GARETH Southgate has admitted Jonathan Woodgate is growing increasingly "cheesed off" with his latest complaint.

The centre-back is struggling to overcome a repetitive cramp problem that has seen him replaced after around an hour in three of the last four games.

According to Southgate the problem only arises during games and the medical staff at Middlesbrough's Rockliffe Park training ground are working hard to get to the bottom of the condition.

Despite being replaced by Robert Huth after an hour of the 2-1 defeat by West Ham, Southgate has no intention of resting the 27-year-old for today's trip to Birmingham City.

"Woodgate's cramp problem is a strange one," said Southgate.

"He's had a game prior to West Ham when he got through without a problem.

"At the moment we're doing various little tests to see what might be the cause. We've just got to work collectively to see what might be the root cause.

"Robert Huth is doing fine when he comes on, but it's difficult for a centre half to come into a game at that stage.

"It's not happening in training to Woodgate, it just happens in match situations.

"The fortunate thing is that it's cramp, not an injury. It's something that makes you struggle to perform at the highest level once it sets in. It's a case of having to get him off when he feels it coming on.

"Psychologically he's pretty cheesed off with it. It's really frustrating for him. Cramp is something where it's four or five different things it might be.

"We can only try to eliminate them one by one. We're going to have to monitor it. But we're having to be sensible with everybody over the festive season."

Southgate admits that even if he wanted to rest the player, the current situation leaves him struggling to offer anyone breathing space.

Chris Riggott (calf), Matthew Bates (knee) and Andrew Taylor (foot) are among his defensive injuries, and he is struggling with numbers across all areas of his squad "I haven't really got the luxury of being able to change things too much (over Christmas and New Year)," said Southgate. "We don't have that many options to change the game.

"That's a difficult thing for us, we can't really change the direction of the game. West Ham have a lot of injuries, but they've got 28 senior players.

"We miss three or four and it has a big impact on us. But we're not complaining.

"We've got to get the best out of everyone we've got. But that negative can definitely become a positive.

You don't get too many players who aren't involved or who don't feel part of it, so they all have a chance."

One of the players asked to play throughout the festive period is Julio Arca, who was one of the positives in the 2-1 defeat against West Ham last weekend.

It was his first start since suffering medial ligament damage against his former club Sunderland in September, and Southgate was delighted to get a full game out of his midfielder.

"We were hopeful he would get through it, although not certain as it was his first game back,"

said Southgate.

"He's had quite a bit of training and a couple of reserve games. He's a fit lad and will be a lot better for the West Ham game.

"He can play three games in a week. He's a huge influence - an an outstanding footballer and huge character. You miss those players when they're not there."

With Fabio Rochemback available after serving a one-match suspension, Southgate appears to have options in midfield for today's visit to St Andrew's, despite Gary O'Neil's likely absence with a slight hamstring problem.

Arca hopes to declare himself fit to start after admitting feeling no ill-effects following his exertions against West Ham.

"I was only going to play 70 minutes, but I didn't have any problem lasting for 90," said the Argentinian.

"The knee feels OK and hopefully there will be no reaction. I will tell the manager I'm ready to play on Wednesday if he wants me. Hopefully the knee will take it."