Boro striker suffers break

JEREMIE ALIADIERE could have played his last game for Middlesbrough after the club last night confirmed he had suffered a broken toe in Saturday's defeat at Cardiff City. Boro's medical team expect the Frenchman to be out for around six weeks and, unless Boro can secure a place in the Championship play-offs, Aliadiere will have limited opportunities to feature again this season. The injury has scuppered his chances of convincing Gordon Strachan he is worthy of a new deal and there is a strong possibility that the Arsenal academy product will not kick a ball again in a Boro shirt. By the time he is scheduled to return, Strachan's side will have only a couple of fixtures a home encounter with QPR and an end of season trip to Ipswich Town to complete their Championship programme. Aliadiere last week revealed that Boro had failed to take up an option to extend his current contract that expires this summer and he is expected to be seeking a new club at the end of the campaign. After failing to establish himself in Arsene Wenger's side the attacking midfielder, who celebrates his 27th birthday later this month, joined Boro in a £2m in June 2007.

Source: Northern_Echo