United youngsters set for Boro chance

Brief news from the Premier League clubs ahead of this weekend's matches:

* Manchester United youngsters Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda are likely to feature at Middlesbrough tomorrow, but captain Rio Ferdinand remains doubtful with a rib injury.

"They have both done really well and they could be involved on Saturday," United manager Alex Ferguson said of the two teenagers on the club website (www.manutd.com).

Defender Gary Neville misses out with a foot injury, while Boro could give a late fitness test to Austrian Emanuel Pogatetz.

* Blackburn Rovers travel to Manchester City tomorrow without midfielder David Dunn who has had surgery on his Achilles and will miss the rest of the season.

Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz remains sidelined with a knee injury and is also likely to miss Rovers' four remaining matches.

* Arsenal travel to Portsmouth tomorrow without defenders Gael Clichy (back) and Mikael Silvestre (groin) and strikers Eduardo da Silva and Robin van Persie (both groin).

Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar (ankle) is out for the remainder of the season, but midfielders Jermaine Pennant and Younes Kaboul could play.

* Stoke City will give a late fitness test to striker James Beattie ahead of tomorrow's match at home to West Ham United, but defender Andy Wilkinson remains doubtful.

Amdy Faye, Danny Higginbotham, Mamady Sidibe and Salif Diao are all ruled out.

West Ham defender Jonathan Spector is available after recovering from concussion, but leading scorer Carlton Cole is not match-fit.

* Tottenham Hotspur will be without striker Darren Bent (knee) for tomorrow's match at home to West Bromwich Albion.

West Brom are missing defender Abdoulaye Meite (hamstring) and midfielder James Morrison (heel).

* Wigan Athletic striker Mido is expected to miss tomorrow's visit of Bolton Wanderers with a shoulder injury, but Amir Zaki could return to the starting line-up.

* Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could return from injury to face relegation-threatened Newcastle United on Sunday.

Newcastle are without defenders Steven Taylor (ankle) and Jose Enrique (hamstring).