Middlesbrough vs Wolves - Pulis could name unchanged side for Wolves clash

Posted Thursday, March 29, 2018 by PA

Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis could field the same team for the fourth successive game as Sky Bet Championship leaders Wolves head for the Riverside Stadium on Friday.

The same 11 men have started the victories over Birmingham and Barnsley and the draw with Brentford in the club’s last three games with key midfielder Grant Leadbitter having to make do with a seat on the bench at Griffin Park on his return from suspension.

Central defender Daniel Ayala has benefited from the international break after playing through a groin injury immediately before it, while Adama Traore, Mo Besic and Dael Fry returned from duty with their respective countries unscathed.

Full-back Fabio da Silva is closing in on a return from his thigh problem, but striker Rudy Gestede is out for the season after undergoing ankle surgery.

Wolves will once again be without striker Diogo Jota as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

The Portuguese limped out of the 3-0 home victory over Reading on March 13 and missed the 3-1 victory against Burton four days later, although the damage is not thought to be as serious as was first feared.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has no fresh injury problems with all his international players having returned to the club in good shape.

Wolves sit 13 points clear of third-placed Fulham with just eight games remaining and have lost only to the Londoners and fellow promotion challengers Aston Villa in their last 10 outings.