 Pogatetz had faced a long lay-off |
Middlesbrough are yet to hear whether the appeal against a six-month ban handed to recent signing Emanuel Pogatetz has been successful. It was reported that the defender's ban had been reduced to eight games by the Russian Football Union.
But boss Steve McClaren told BBC Radio Cleveland: "The Russian Football Union will tell our FA when they've reached a decision, and they will inform us.
"We haven't heard anything yet. There's no way he can play at the weekend."
The 22-year-old, who joined Middlesbrough on a five-year deal from Bayer Leverkusen, was banned after breaking a player's leg when on loan at Spartak Moscow.
The incident happened against Shinnik Yaroslavl on 25 June, and the eight-match ban expired last week.
Boro play Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
MMIX
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