Jonathan Woodgate has provided an injury update ahead of the clash with Leeds United on Wednesday night.

Middlesbrough are without a win in eight league fixtures but face a difficult test against the promotion contenders.

That run of results has left the Teessiders within three points of the relegation zone, meaning that they'll need to pull off a big result against Marcelo Bielsa's side.

Unfortunately for Woodgate, he's still without a number of key players.

Anfernee Dijksteel, Dael Fry, Daniel Ayala and Patrick Roberts will all miss the visit of the West Yorkshire side, with the Boro boss saying that all four are still several weeks away from a return.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Woodgate said: "Anfernee's back in training and he will play an U23s game on Friday against Newcastle.

"Dani Ayala has been out now for seven weeks, he should be another two or three weeks. Hopefully a little bit quicker.

"We'll have to see about Patrick Roberts, he's had a hamstring injury so it's a different ball game with hamstrings.

"Dael Fry is another two or three weeks, but he's progressing really well."

Do you know where Middlesbrough signed these players from? Have a go!

 

The verdict

Middlesbrough will be determined to get their injured stars back to fitness as soon as possible.

The Teessiders have really struggled in recent weeks and that is in part down to the players who are sitting on the sidelines.

Patrick Roberts is arguably Middlesbrough's best attacking player, while Daniel Ayala and Dael Fry are the club's first choice pairing at centre-back.

Jonathan Woodgate's side need to get some points on the board and so getting these players fit could be key.