Donk in line for 'Boro

Albion boss Tony Mowbray has revealed he may include Dutch-Under 21 defender Ryan Donk against Middlesbrough after Leon Barnett's horror show last weekend. Donk has not yet featured for the Baggies after signing late on in the January transfer window despite playing twice for the second-string.

The Baggies are now down to three specialist centre-halves after injuries to long-serving Neil Clement and Abdoulaye Meite have left Mowbray with little options at the heart of Albion's defence.

Despite admitting Donk was not ready for the rigours of Premiership football after his arrival from AZ Alkmaar Mowbray may well give the 6ft. 4in defender his first outing in Albion colours at The Riverside.

"Ryan wasn't ready," the Baggies boss said.

"Has he got a chance for the weekend? Of course he has.

"Let's wait and see.

"He has these wonderful assets of speed and mobility, and he is decent with the ball.

"The reason he hasn't played is because he is still a little bit in a Dutch mentality of playing football as you would expect from only being in the building a couple of weeks and having played just two reserve games.

"If Meite had been fit and playing, Ryan would have even longer to get going."