Source: Northern_Echo
Williams closes in on first-team return after outing for Boro reserves
MIDDLESBROUGH'S defensive options could finally increase this weekend after Rhys Williams came through 84 minutes of the reserves' 2-1 defeat to Hartlepool this afternoon.[LNB] Williams has not played a single minute of football for Boro's senior side this season after sustaining a serious pelvic injury last spring.[LNB] The Australia international was playing as a central midfielder under former Boro boss Gordon Strachan, but could revert to a defensive position at either right-back or centre-half to help assuage Tony Mowbray's current selection problems.[LNB] He will hope to be included in the squad for Saturday's Championship away game at Reading having stepped up his rehabilitation today.[LNB] Williams was part of a youthful Boro reserves side that suffered their first league defeat of the season at the hands of their local rivals.[LNB] Hartlepool took the lead in first-half stoppage time, with Paul Johnson flicking on Darren Holden's cross, and Michael Mackay converting from close range.[LNB] Boro equalised in the early stages of the second half, with Mickael Tavares creating space on the edge of the area before drilling a low strike past Andy Rafferty.[LNB] However, Paul Johnson headed Pools back into the lead with 16 minutes left, and Rafferty saved well from Tarmo Kink as Boro pushed for a second equaliser late on.[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH: Ripley, Oliver (Pilatos 46), R Williams (Rivers 84), Haas, Reach (Sirrell 46), Smallwood, Atkinson, Tavares, Kink, Halliday, Park.[LNB] HARTLEPOOL: Rafferty, Lucmendy (Purvis 63), Holden, Richards, P Johnson, Bjornsson, Mackay, Yantorno (Rowbotham 71), Boyd (Martin 63), Behan, Birkbeck.[LNB]
