David Wheater needs operation

MIDDLESBROUGH have been rocked by a second injury blow to their hopes of raising funds if they get relegated.

Sport of the World can reveal that David Wheater, a target for Aston Villa and Birmingham, will go under the surgeon's knife at the end of this month. And he could be out until AUGUST.

The England Under-21 defender needs surgery on a cartilage tear in his knee. He will be sidelined for around five weeks before he can even start training, ruling him out of the start of pre-season. And that will put in question any transfer.

Middlesbrough bosses know they will have to sell at least two big stars if they go down today.

But their hopes of getting £12million for Stewart Downing (right) have already been dealt a hammer blow with the news the England winger is out for three months with a broken foot.

Downing, 24, was told in January, when the club turned down a transfer request, that he could move in the summer. The injury to 22-year-old Wheater is a further knock.

The 6ft 5in central defender has played with painkillers for two months in his bid to keep Boro in the top flight.

"The injury is painful and I can't really train," he said. "But I'll be playing on Sunday and I'll be all right. The speculation doesn't unsettle me. It's flattering. I saw £9m mentioned and I was like: 'Flipping heck!'

"It's madness, isn't it? But it doesn't really bother me. I signed a three-and-a-half year deal in February last year. I've got two more years after the end of this season.

"I would like my future to be Middlesbrough. I wouldn't ask to leave. If they want to sell me that's a different matter but I wouldn't knock on the manager's door and ask to go."

Boro's Premier League status hangs by the thinnest of threads. They need to win at Upton Park today, enjoy a goal difference swing of five between them and Hull and hope Newcastle lose at Aston Villa.

Raise

But Gareth Southgate will still be the man in charge next season whatever happens today.

Manager Southgate has held talks with chairman Steve Gibson and chief executive Keith Lamb and has been told he will have to raise £20m if there is no Premier League income next season.

Southgate said: "I know what would have to happen in either league.

"Steve, Keith and myself have already spoken about what we would want to be doing next season. We have to sit down after Sunday and nail down some of those plans.

"We've always looked at next season and in more recent times we've had to look at the business with both possible scenarios. They are right behind me, absolutely. They have been excellent."

And Southgate has not given up hope of landing a 66-1 shot to keep Boro up. He added: "We have told the players they can do it. We have a lifeline, we have a shot. It is feasible.

"We have to do our part and other things might happen for us. People are ready for one last throw of the dice."

Wheater's injury will rule him out of Stuart Pearce's plans for the European Under-21 Championships in Sweden. But he too is clinging to hope for Boro.

"We need optimism," he said. "We need some confidence. The staff have told us to keep believing. There is a still a chance we can stay in the league but we have a lot to do.

"It's been a difficult season. But if we go down we can't complain. We haven't scored enough and we've been conceding too many.

"As players we have to take the blame. It's us who go onto the pitch every game. It's unfair when the manager is blamed."

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