Boro hope to have players back

Manager Tony Mowbray hopes the injury situation will significantly improve at Middlesbrough ahead of their return to Championship action.

Boro were without as many as a dozen senior players for their weekend FA Cup third round victory against non-league Hastings United.

“Potentially five or six could be back,” Mowbray told the Northern Echo. “I’ve been speaking to the doctors and all these injuries are really fatigue rather than explosive hamstrings, six-week jobs.

“Faris Haroun made it back against Hastings, Scott McDonald isn’t too bad and made the bench,” he added. “Then there’s George Friend, Seb Hines, Justin Hoyte, who all have a chance.”