Middlesbrough injury news as Michael Carrick could be without 14 players for West Brom clash
Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick could be without as many as 14 players when they face West Brom on Saturday 23 December, according to Teesside Live.
The newspaper reported on its website (21 December) that Boro’s current injury and doubt list includes 14 names, leaving only 13 senior players, two of which are goalkeepers, who are definitely fit for the clash with Carlos Corberan’s side.
A number of crucial players missed the clash with Port Vale, but there is a suggestion that Seny Dieng, Riley McGree and Josh Coburn could all return against Albion, but Hayden Hackney won’t be fit in time to play at the Riverside.
Giving a fitness update, Carrick said: “Maybe Josh, maybe Riley but not to the point where they’ll be ready to play. Seny’s was a thigh problem. It looks like it will be a matter of days rather than anything longer. It’s not too long now.”
Take the chance
After a difficult few weeks, West Brom have returned to some good form and will be hoping to build upon that against Carrick’s injury-hit Middlesbrough when they travel to the Riverside on Saturday afternoon in their final match before Christmas.
The Baggies are suffering on the injury front themselves and Corberan is now working with the bare bones at The Hawthorns, particularly up top where the only genuine option at the Albion boss’ disposal is Brandon Thomas-Asante.
However, West Brom have managed to find themselves in a genuine race for the Championship top six places and picking up all three points against Boro would be a huge boost to Albion’s playoff hopes and the home side’s injury issues could be a boost to the Baggies.
So often the festive period and its intense fixture schedule can be decisive in the grand scheme of the Championship season and where teams finish in England’s second tier. Starting that period with a win at the Riverside could be huge in the story of the Baggies’ season.
In other West Brom news, any new Baggies owner must sign a striker after Brandon Thomas-Asante was named in Ghana’s AFCON squad