Middlesbrough V Wolverhampton at The Riverside Stadium : Match Preview

14 December 2012 15:31
Middlesbrough V Wolverhampton - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Boro to check on quintet

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will give late fitness tests to five of his players ahead of Saturday's home clash with Wolves.

Grant Leadbitter, Faris Haroun and Andre Bikey all have hamstring niggles and will be subject to checks on Saturday.

The manager will also run the rule over Andy Halliday (Achilles) and Seb Hines (knee) before kick-off at the Riverside.

On-loan midfielder Josh McEachran returns to contention after he was ineligible to play a part in Wednesday's Capital One Cup defeat to Swansea under the terms of his loan agreement with parent club Chelsea.

Jonathan Woodgate has recovered from his calf injury and could be in Mowbray's plans.

Julio Arca (toe surgery), Rhys Williams (ankle ligaments), Muzzy Carayol and Curtis Main (both knee) are all close to returning to the squad.

Wolves are not expected to have Jamie O'Hara in their squad.

The midfielder made an appearance for the reserves in midweek on his comeback from injury but boss Stale Solbakken is not going to rush him back into action.

The former Portsmouth and Tottenham player has missed six months after going under the knife three times due to a hernia problem.

But Wolves have no new injury worries and are likely to be unchanged from the side that beat local rivals Birmingham 1-0 last weekend.

Tongo Doumbia should continue in midfield after replacing the injured Dave Edwards, who is out for up to eight weeks with a hamstring tear.

Long-term absentees Razak Boukari, Georg Margreitter, Slawomir Peszko, Steven Mouyokolo, Wayne Hennessey, Stephen Hunt and George Elokobi also remain unavailable.

Source: PA