Middlesbrough boss Woodgate hoping for McNair boost against West Brom

Jonathan Woodgate is hoping his returning internationals will provide a boost as Middlesbrough attempt to return to winning ways against Sky Bet Championship leaders West Brom.

Midfielder Paddy McNair scored twice for Northern Ireland in their 3-2 friendly victory in the Czech Republic on Monday evening, a game in which George Saville came on as a second-half substitute, while keeper Darren Randolph saved a penalty in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-0 Euro 2020 qualifier defeat in Switzerland.

Woodgate is likely to be without striker Rudy Gestede as medics attempt to get to the bottom of a niggling hamstring problem.

George Friend is three or four weeks away from returning from surgery to repair a damaged tendon, while fellow full-back Hayden Coulson is in line to return to action after a thigh problem for the Under-23s on Friday.

Albion manager Slaven Bilic will have Egypt international Ahmed Hegazi available for the trip to Middlesbrough.

Keiran Gibbs will be unavailable after he broke his toe in training over the international break, and is expected to miss the next three matches.

Forward Kenneth Zohore has a calf problem and is unlikely to be included in the squad to play Boro, but could return against Charlton.

In a boost for Bilic, Grady Diangana (Achilles) and Chris Brunt are expected to be available.