Tests carried out this morning revealed the Brazilian, a £12.7million capture from Heerenveen, fractured a metatarsal during last night's 3-1 derby defeat at Newcastle and will miss Saturday's home clash with Aston Villa and the final day trip to West Ham.

Alves was hurt in a first-half challenge by Nicky Butt, which cost the midfielder a booking, and was carried off on a stretcher with the score at 1-1.

In addition, captain Emanuel Pogatetz has undergone knee surgery and will also be unavailable for the last two games with the Teessiders' 11-year stay in the top flight under severe threat.

David Wheater and Didier Digard are still being assessed after missing last night's game with knee and groin injuries respectively.

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Stewart Downing admits Middlesbrough need to win their final two games and then keep their fingers crossed if they are to avoid relegation.

The Teessiders slipped to their 11th consecutive Barclays Premier League defeat on the road last night to leave themselves on the brink of the drop.

However, the fact they did so at the home of derby rivals and fellow strugglers Newcastle, who climbed out of the bottom three as a result, simply rubbed salt into the wound.

Boro now head into Saturday's clash with Aston Villa at the Riverside Stadium knowing if they fail to win, they could be relegated before their final day trip to West Ham.

But England international Downing is praying two victories could yet stave off the seemingly inevitable.

He said: "We just have to win out next two games, it's simple, and rely on what else goes on around us.

"Newcastle are on 34 now - we have got to rely on others as well, but there is no hiding the fact we need to win the next two games.

"There's a slim chance, but there is still a chance. If we beat Aston Villa and see what happens on the weekend's results, that will paint a clearer picture for us.

"But it was disappointing to lose because I genuinely thought we would win last night."

Having endured misfortune before kick-off - skipper Emanuel Pogatetz has been ruled out for the season after knee surgery, while Wheater finally succumbed, also to a knee injury which could end his campaign prematurely, and midfielder Didier Digard also missed out - manager Gareth Southgate's luck seemed to change within three minutes of kick-off at St James' Park.

Newcastle keeper Steve Harper made a good block as Tuncay Sanli, lining up wide of the left, prodded a shot at him from point-blank range.

However, the ball ricocheted off Harper and on to the shins of full-back Habib Beye, who could only look on helplessly as it rolled over the line and into the back of the net.

But the lead lasted just six minutes as Boro's frailty from set-pieces was exposed once again by defender Steven Taylor's firm header.

Brad Jones tipped a flicked Michael Owen effort over the bar, but it was then that Boro's fortunes took another turn for the worse as striker Marvin Emnes was denied by Harper's legs and then fired wide from the rebound before Alves was carried off on a stretcher.

Scans today revealed the Brazilian fractured a metatarsal in a challenge by Nicky Butt, and he has also been ruled out of the last two games.

To their credit, the visitors responded, particularly around the hour-mark, and looked the more likely to make the breakthrough before Magpies boss Alan Shearer was rewarded for a bold gamble.

Peter Lovenkrands had already replaced Jonas Gutierrez when Shearer withdrew skipper Michael Owen to send on Obafemi Martins, and the Nigeria international struck within 55 seconds to give his side a 71st-minute lead.

Lovenkrands repeated the dose with four minutes remaining to leave Boro in deep trouble.

Downing said: "It is horrible, considering the way we played in the first half. But it is not just over this game, the manager has said before it is over the 36 games that we haven't done it.

"It's not just about this game, we haven't done it at the start of the season, in the middle of the season, and that's why we are in the position we are in."

Southgate was refusing to give up as he prepared for Saturday's visit of his former club.

He said: "Listen, I have experienced difficult nights in football. I am fortunate that all the difficult nights in my life have been in football, so you have a sense of perspective of things.

"You have to go through those experiences in football and in life to come out stronger people.

"Some of them found it tough during the game, some of them dealt with it well.

"But the only way you get that type of experience is by living through it. It's painful for them at the moment, but they have got another big game on Saturday.

"We just have to do whatever we can do. We have to try to beat Villa, and if that keeps it alive until the final day, then we are still in with a chance."