Aitor Karanka has faith in Middlesbrough's squad
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka believes his side are in a stronger position to challenge for automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship than they were last season.
Boro missed out on the chance to go top when they lost 2-1 at Blackburn on Tuesday night while a run of just three wins in their last nine league games has seen them slip to third in the table, albeit one point behind leaders Burnley with a game in hand
"Tuesday was another game less," Karanka told the club's official website. "We're in a good position.
"Last season we were worse off than we are now.
"We have a good game against Wolves on Friday so I'm calm because I trust this squad and we have to keep going."
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-0 to Norwich in last season's play-off final, are also level on points with second-placed Hull with 13 games remaining.
Midfielder Grant Leadbitter is doubtful after being forced out of the midweek defeat with a hamstring injury, so either Adam Clayton or Gaston Ramirez could return to the starting line-up.
Karanka will be without central defender Daniel Ayala, who has missed the last five matches due to an ankle injury.
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett is hoping his side can build on last week's home win against Derby, which halted a seven-game run without a win.
The Midlanders are 13th in the table and Jackett has called for consistency between now and the end of the season.
"I think there's a lot to build on there in terms of performances, both individually and as a team," he told the club's official website.
"We're 12 off the play-offs and 14 off the relegation places, and that's where we are.
"Finishing this season very strongly is something I'm determined to do.
"We've had spells where we've been looking a good team, and with the addition of X, Y and Z we could go on to be one of the better sides.
"But we've also had spells where we've looked like we're just going to fall away and be heading towards the bottom."
Midfielder James Henry could return to contention after missing the last three games due to a hamstring injury, while Jackett may recall winger Rajiv van La Parra.
Van La Parra was left out of the squad last week after being booed off by Wolves supporters in the recent defeat at Brentford for inflammatory comments he recently made on social media about his wages.
Mike Williamson (hamstring) and forward Michal Zyro (broken foot) are closing in on returns but are not likely to feature.
Source: PAR
