Middlesbrough Football Club News

• Nickname:Boro
• Founded:1876
• Manager:Tony Mowbray

• Ground:Riverside Stadium
• Capacity:35,049

No quick return for Woody

07 Aug 2007 - 10:39:42

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Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate is not expected to be fit enough to return to first-team action until mid-September.

The 27-year-old will definitely miss Boro's first five Premier League games of the campaign as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

He will also miss England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel on September 8 and Russia four days later.

However, in better news for boss Gareth Southgate, Chris Riggott is expected to return to full training this week.

The former Derby County star has been sidelined for two weeks with a badly bruised foot but should be available for this weekend's opening-day fixture against Blackburn Rovers.

Meanwhile, James Morrison is still thinking about a possible £1.75million transfer to West Brom.

Southgate said: "As a manager you don't really want to lose any players.

"But we have to make decisions which are for the good of everybody. It's a question of whether there's guaranteed first-team football for him down there.

"It's up to James what he wants to do."