Haas set for Boro bow

28 February 2011 15:30
German defender Maximilian Haas is standing by for a full Middlesbrough debut as manager Tony Mowbray faces up to a new injury crisis. Mowbray, who lost David Wheater to Bolton in January, has since seen Matthew Bates and loan signing Andrew Davies succumb to hamstring injuries and, if Seb Hines fails to shake off a dead leg, will head into Tuesday's match against Nottingham Forest with just two fit central defenders. That could mean a first Boro start for 25-year-old Haas, a January arrival from Bayern Munich's second team, following his appearance as a substitute against leaders QPR at the weekend. Mowbray said: "If Seb doesn't make it, then we have got two fit centre-halves at the club [Haas and Jonathan Grounds] and they will both play. "But I don' thin Max did anything that made you think, 'Oh, he's not ready yet'. He's fine. "He's waiting for an opportunity. I will sleep on it on Monday and make the decision on who we think is going to do the best job against Nottingham Forest."

Source: PA