Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock has suggested that Boro are likely to continue to be without their injured players for their first game back after the international break.
Boro host Peterborough United after the international break in what will be a huge game for Warnock as he attempts to get his side heading back in the right direction.
That comes with pressure starting to build on the experienced Middlesbrough manager following Boro’s poor performance in their 2-0 defeat at Hull City on Saturday.
Warnock’s cause has not been helped by a host of injury issues to the likes of Anfernee Dijksteel, Onel Hernandez and Grant Hall and without them Middlesbrough’s squad is looking a little short on numbers in key areas of the field.
Speaking to Teesside Live, Warnock has suggested that it is not looking likely at this stage that Middlesbrough will be able to get their injured players back in time to face Peterborough.
He said: "It’s not easy to see any of the injured lads being fit for Peterborough so we’ll just have to wait and see what that leaves us.
“It’s a bleak picture at the minute.
“We have to be ready next week to sort the mess out with the injured players.
“That’s how football is though. You’ve got to overcome these things. We’re in a great job and there are a lot of people worse off than us.”
The verdict
This is another major blow for Middlesbrough, but it is not something that they would not have been anticipating.
They have the rest of the international break to plan for their game against Peterborough and come up with a plan to compensate for their injury absentees.
Warnock can not afford to have his players out of action for too long because Middlesbrough are carrying a fairly light squad in terms of numbers this season.
Therefore, the sooner they get some players back fit the better but until then they have to find a way to pick up results.
The decision to loan out Djed Spence and allow players like Sam Morsy to leave the club now appear to have been potential mistakes by Boro in the summer. They could certainly do with those extra bodies at the moment to help them through their current issues.
Having said all that, Warnock is more than experienced enough as a manager to be able to handle this situation and find the right solution before that massive game against Peterborough.