The former Reading man could miss the rest of the season with a hamstring tear and that means Mowbray could turn to Marvin Emnes or Merouane Zemmama with Kris Boyd and Lee Miller out on loan.
He will, however, have experienced defender Stephen McManus, who was an unused substitute at Portsmouth last weekend, available after playing 75 minutes for the reserves in midweek on his return from an ankle injury.
Full-back Joe Bennett will play once again with a lightweight cast protecting a chipped bone in his wrist but Boro still have a lengthy casualty list.
Jason Steele (torn stomach muscle), Danny Coyne (hernia surgery), Julio Arca (knee and toe), Andrew Davies, Matthew Bates and Justin Hoyte (all hamstring), Willo Flood (thigh), Kevin Thomson (hairline leg fracture) and Jonathan Franks and Luke Williams (both ankle) remain on the sidelines.
Source: PA
Source: PA