No new worries for Middlesbrough boss Woodgate

Posted Monday, August 19, 2019 by PA

Middlesbrough head coach Jonathan Woodgate has no fresh injury problems for Tuesday night’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Wigan.

George Friend was substituted late in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Blackburn in his second appearance since returning from an adductor tendon injury which disrupted his pre-season, but he is expected to be available as Woodgate looks for his first win at the fifth attempt.

Fellow defender Dael Fry is due to train with the first-team squad this week following his recovery from a long-standing hamstring problem but is unlikely to be involved against Latics.

Hayden Coulson will miss out with a thigh problem, while Rudy Gestede is also unavailable having had an epidural last week in a bid to address a hamstring issue.

Kieffer Moore is likely to lead the line once again for Wigan as they attempt to bounce back from Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Leeds.

Moore started in place of the injured Joe Garner and manager Paul Cook has revealed his withdrawal seven minutes from time was designed to ensure he is fit for the trip to the Riverside Stadium.

However, midfielder Joe Williams will sit out through suspension after being sent off for two bookable offences at the weekend.

Garner, Josh Windass, Anthony Pilkington and Joe Gelhardt were all missing through injury against Leeds and are expected to be unavailable once again.