Boro allay Aliadiere fears
30 Oct 2007 - 14:25:34
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has dispelled fears that Jeremie Aliadiere suffered a recurrence of his hamstring strain in Saturday's defeat at Manchester United.
The former Arsenal star had to be substituted early in the second half at Old Trafford after scoring Boro's goal in the 4-1 defeat.
There were concerns that Aliadiere had injured the same hamstring that had kept him out for over a month.
However, a relieved Southgate told Boro's official website: "He just had cramp. We were very conscious with him having been out for six weeks, we knew he wouldn't last 90 minutes.
"We hoped he could give us an hour and we got 55 out of him in the end.
"He got through so much running in the first half that both he and Tuncay were almost bound to flag.
"That was an important goal for him. He needed that first goal for us because he's been torturing defences without getting the goal he deserves.
"For him to come to Old Trafford and score against the best defence in the country gives him and us confidence for future games."