Middlesbrough were tonight rocked by the news that Spanish midfielder Gazika Mendieta will miss the rest of the season after breaking a bone in his foot in training.

The 32-year-old, an unused substitute in yesterday's 1-0 Premiership win at Manchester City, suffered a fractured metatarsal - the same injury which has sidelined England striker Michael Owen since December - today three days ahead of the club's vital UEFA Cup quarter-final, second leg clash with Basle.

Mendieta will need an operation to repair the damage and is expected to be out of action for 12 weeks, which will take him well into the closed-season break.