Middlesbrough utility man Rhys Williams is a doubt for the clash with Watford following a gruelling trip back from international duty.

The 21-year-old was due back on Teesside on Friday after Australia's internationals against Holland and Oman in the southern hemisphere during the last fortnight, and manager Gareth Southgate will have to make an assessment of how ready he is to play.

However, central defender Sean St Ledger has returned unscathed from the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Montenegro.

Skipper Emanuel Pogatetz got 45 minutes under his belt for the reserves in midweek as he continued his recovery from knee surgery, but came off with a tight hamstring.

Caleb Folan (hamstring), Chris Riggott (ankle surgery), Andrew Taylor (ankle ligaments) and Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) remain on the sidelines.

Watford striker Heidar Helguson has been ruled out of the clash due to the calf injury he suffered on his second Hornets debut against Leicester last month.

The 32-year-old, who may also miss next Tuesday's match with Ipswich, was hoping to be fit for the match against Boro but manager Malky Mackay didn't want to risk further injury by hurrying him back.

"We don't want to rush him in for the sake of an extra two or three days and lose him for a couple of months," he told the Watford Observer.

"Our fitness department have worked very well and hard with him in terms of his rehab and the proper way he should recover from this calf strain and for the sake of Saturday and Tuesday... it is probably looking more like Friday but I am not discounting Tuesday."

Skipper Jay DeMerit is still missing with an eye infection which may yet require surgery.

Craig Cathcart, Ross Jenkins, Henri Lansbury, Don Cowie and Will Hoskins were hit by a sickness bug ahead of the 4-0 defeat by Cardiff last time out but all have recovered.

Cathcart and Cowie have since come back from international duty in one piece.

Marvin Sordell and Liam Henderson scored for the reserves in midweek in a match which also saw Scott Severin get a run-out to prove his fitness following a recent groin injury.