Source: SKY_Sports
Boro to bring back Alves
Afonso Alves will be reinstated to the Middlesbrough first-team this weekend as they desperately look for goals.
The Brazilian international, who has been on the bench for Boro's last two games, has not scored since January.
But assistant manager Malcolm Crosby has revealed that Boro will bring Alves back into their side for the last eight games, starting with Saturday's match at Bolton.
"We see Afonso every day. We know that he is capable of scoring goals - and goals are what we need so I think we have to bring him back into the team and hopefully give him a run," he said.
"He is the one who looks the most likely to score more goals. So we have to go with that.
"In any case he has deserved another chance. We have to bring attacking players into the team and we have to be more attack conscious.
"That doesn't mean we will be throwing caution to the wind at Bolton, but we have to go there and score."
Crosby is also hoping Boro's international players come back from representing their countries unscathed.
"It's difficult when you have so many players away, but it's the same for everybody," he said.
"In Tuncay's case he will be coming back to us after two tough games, both of them against Spain.
"There's no point in him coming all the way back here when he lands. We'll meet him at Manchester.
"It's far from ideal and playing him will be taking a risk.
"Of course he'll want to play, and hopefully he'll come back without any problems, but it's something we'll have to think about.
"It's a similar situation regarding Mohamed Shawky. He's away with Egypt and we need to see how he is when he returns to us."
Meanwhile, Boro have announced defender John Johnson has signed a new two-year deal, while Canadian youth international Shaun Saiko has signed his first professional contract with the club.
