ALEX BANGURA and Darragh Lenihan have both been registered in Middlesbrough's squad for the second half of the season, raising hopes the pair could play some part before the campaign is out.
But there's no place in the squad for Seny Dieng after the goalkeeper suffered a serious Achilles injury that required surgery last month.
Sol Brynn is one of the 24 players to have been registered, however. The Teessider has been out of action since dislocating his shoulder in the Boxing Day win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Bangura wasn't part of the 25-man squad Boro registered at the start of the season after suffering a major Achilles injury in the summer but he has now been added to the list.
Lenihan was in the squad at the start of the season because at that stage the defender was expected back in action. But the former Blackburn captain has suffered some frustrating setbacks and has remained on the sidelines, though Michael Carrick said earlier this week he was hopeful the 30-year-old could yet play some part this season.
Tommy Smith was in Boro's squad at the start of the season but the full-back announced his retirement last week. After all of Boro's January signings were registered, one space is left in their squad.
Rav van den Berg counts as an Under-21 player so doesn't have to be registered on the squad list.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have submitted a 19-man list with no notable absentees. Niall Huggins is in the squad despite his serious injury, while Jayden Danns is also included with Sunderland hopeful the Liverpool loanee can play a part before the end of the season.
Although there are six spaces left in their squad, several of their first team stars class as Under-21s players.
Chris Rigg, Jobe Bellingham, Romaine Mundle, Tommy Watson, Eliezer Mayenda, Milan Aleksic and Ahmed Abdullahi are all classed as Under-21s.
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MIDDLESBROUGH - IN SQUAD PLAYERS
Finn Azaz
Alex Bangura
Dan Barlaser
Neto Borges
Sol Brynn
Delano Burgzorg
Tommy Conway
Anfernee Dijksteel
Ben Doak
George Edmundson
Marcus Forss
Dael Fry
Tom Glover
Hayden Hackney
Jonny Howson
Kelechi Iheanacho
Samuel Iling-Junior
Darragh Lenihan
Riley McGree
Aidan Morris
Luke Ayling
Morgan Whittaker
Mark Travers
Notable Under-21s
Josh Dede
Sonny Finch
Brayden Johnson
Law McCabe
Harley Hunt
George McCormick
Rav van den Berg
SUNDERLAND - IN SQUAD PLAYERS
Salis Abdul Samed
Aji Alese
Joe Anderson
Dan Ballard
Alan Browne
Dennis Cirkin
Jayden Danns
Niall Huggins
Trai Hume
Wilson Isidor
Enzo Le Fee
Chris Mepham
Simon Moore
Dan Neil
Blondy Nna Noukeu
Luke O'Nien
Anthony Patterson
Ian Poveda
Patrick Roberts
Notable Under-21 players
Ahmed Abdullahi
Milan Aleksic
Abdoullah Ba
Jobe Bellingham
Jewison Bennette
Leo Hjelde
Zak Johnson
Harrison Jones
Eliezer Mayenda
Romaine Mundle
Chris Rigg
Trey Ogunsuyi
Jenson Seelt
Rhys Walsh
Tommy Watson
