Rivals riven by injury

With the UEFA Cup set to resume after its winter break, uefa.com looks at the form of the 32 clubs involved in first-leg ties this week.

Grazer AK v Middlesbrough FC
GAK, fourth in the Austrian Bundesliga, have not seen action since the 2-0 win against AZ Alkmaar on 15 December that helped them pip Rangers FC to third place in Group F. After staging their traditional indoor tournament, GAK travelled to Italy for a training camp and several friendlies. Serie D side US Agropoli were beaten 5-0, and after a goalless draw against another UEFA Cup contender, FC Steaua Bucuresti, GAK won 3-0 against S.S. Cavese of Serie C2.

Two midfielders have been signed in the transfer window for the UEFA Cup squad, with Latvian international Imants Bleidelis arriving from Viborg FF and Pa Saiko Kujabi joining from FC Hawks in his native Gambia. Teenager Thomas Lechner, who has left Kapfenberg SV, has not been registered for Europe, while several other players will miss the Middlesbrough tie. Emanuel Pogatetz left the training camp in Udine through illness and is unlikely to play on Thursday while among his fellow defenders Gregor Pötscher has a leg injury and Joachim Standfest an ankle problem.

Players registered: Pa Saikou Kujabi, Imants Bleidelis, Thomas Schönberger (B list), Philipp Schenk (B list).
Players out: Dominic Hassler, Stefan Erkinger.

English club Middlesbrough breezed through Group E in their first European campaign, but injuries have contributed to mixed fortunes since. Aston Villa FC were beaten 3-0, but midfielder George Boateng broke his toe, sidelining him for two months. On 26 December they went down 2-0 at Birmingham City FC yet recovered to defeat Norwich City FC 3-0 two days later. The first fixtures of 2005 saw losses to title challengers Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC, relief coming in the form of an FA Cup win at Notts County FC.

Fellow contenders for a UEFA Champions League place, Everton FC, drew 1-1 at Middlesbrough a week later, with central defender Ugo Ehiogu rejoining the injury list as he suffered knee ligament damage. More trauma followed as Middlesbrough led 4-1 at lowly Norwich with ten minutes left only to draw 4-4. Their FA Cup adventure then ended at United, and Middlesbrough lost 2-1 at Portsmouth FC before finding form with a 1-0 success against Blackburn Rovers FC in which Malcolm Christie broke his foot, ruling him out for the season. On Saturday a side missing six first-team regulars drew 0-0 at Bolton Wanderers FC and remained sixth in the Premiership.

Players registered: Danny Graham.
Players out: None.