Middlesbrough have been dealt a blow with confirmation record signing Afonso Alves will not play again this season.
Tests carried out on Tuesday morning revealed the Brazilian, a £12.7m capture from Heerenveen, fractured a metatarsal during Monday night's 3-1 derby defeat at Newcastle United and will miss Saturday's home match with Aston Villa and the final day trip to West Ham United.
Alves was hurt in a first-half challenge by Nicky Butt, which cost the midfielder a booking, and was carried off on a stretcher with the score at 1-1.
In addition, captain Emanuel Pogatetz has undergone knee surgery and will also be unavailable for the last two fixtures with the Teessiders' 11-year stay in the top flight under severe threat.
David Wheater and Didier Digard are still being assessed after missing Monday's match with knee and groin injuries respectively. Boro now head into Saturday's meeting with Aston Villa at the Riverside Stadium knowing that if they fail to win, they could be relegated before their final day trip to West Ham.
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