Middlesbrough will be without Daniel Ayala for this weekend’s FA Cup tie with Tottenham, but Manchester City loanees, Patrick Roberts and Lukas Nmecha, could both debut.

Jonathan Woodgate has led the Boro revival over recent weeks in the Championship, with the Teessiders moving clear of the relegation zone after five wins in their last seven fixtures.

And, this weekend they have a glamour tie in the FA Cup, with Tottenham heading to the Riverside Stadium.

It gives Woodgate a chance to go up against one of his former sides, but he will have to do so without his central defender, Ayala.

Ayala picked up an ankle injury in the win over Preston North End on New Year’s Day, which forced him from the field after only 34 minutes.

“Ayala won’t play against Spurs, we’re going to assess him over the next 72 hours,” Woodgate said, as quoted by the club’s official website.

However, Boro could hand debuts to Roberts and Nmecha, who both arrived at the Riverside earlier this week in a rapid start to the transfer window.

The pair arrive from Manchester City and will look to add depth to Woodgate’s squad, as well as pick up vital experience.

“The could both maybe be involved on Sunday, we’ll have to see how they train,” Woodgate also revealed.

The Verdict

This is really mixed team news for Middlesbrough, with the loss of Ayala a particular concern.

Tottenham are a massive draw for any side in the FA Cup, so to be facing them without your skipper is really frustrating.

However, Sunday is a chance to see two new signings at the Riverside, and with both having plenty of quality, it’ll be intriguing to see how they gel.

Thoughts? Let us know!