As you were for Jonathan Woodgate ahead of Middlesbrough’s clash with Birmingham

Posted Tuesday, January 21, 2020 by PA

Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate is expected to choose from an unchanged squad for the home game against Birmingham.

Woodgate has reported no new injury concerns following Friday night’s defeat at Fulham and those sidelined are not ready to return, so his defensive options remain threadbare.

George Friend (ankle) and Ryan Shotton (knee) are both back in training but remain two weeks away, while fellow defenders Anfernee Dijksteel (knee) and Daniel Ayala (ankle) are still out.

Striker Britt Assombalonga has been sidelined since early December with an ankle injury.

Birmingham will be without captain Harlee Dean again as he sits out the final game of his two-match ban.

Marc Roberts returned from an ankle injury in Saturday’s home draw against Cardiff and played the full 90 minutes, so he could continue in Dean’s absence.

Roberts, Dan Crowley, Ivan Sunjic and Jude Bellingham all returned to the starting line-up at the weekend and boss Pep Clotet may consider more changes as his side chase their second win in nine league matches.

Dutch midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld is still working his way back from a long-term knee injury.