Middlesbrough could be without defender Dael Fry when they travel to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, Neil Warnock has revealed.

Fry was absent as Middlesbrough made eight games unbeaten with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and it seems he may be on the sidelines again in midweek.

The centre back is apparently suffering with a bug, and Warnock is unsure whether he will overcome that illness before Tuesday night's trip to Lancashire.

Providing an update on Fry ahead of that game, Warnock told Middlesbrough's official website: "I’m not 100 per cent sure on Dael. He’ll be in later today and we’ll see how he is, but it’s important he’s 100 per cent."

In the absence of Fry, 18-year-old Nathan Wood stepped in to the centre of 'Boro's defence on Saturday, and it seems Warnock would be confident of sticking with the teenager at Ewood Park again if necessary.

Discussing Wood's performance against Forest, Warnock went on to add: “Nathan Wood did ever so well when he came in there on Saturday and it would be another test for him. He’s worked really hard has Woody, and he listened to what we were saying and did very well.”

'Boro go into the game fifth in the Championship table, two points adrift of the automatic promotion places.

The Verdict

This news on Fry is likely to be frustrating for 'Boro.

The centre back is a solid player for Warnock's side, and they will no doubt want his reliable presence in the heart of their defence back as soon as possible, while Fry himself will surely also want to back to action quickly, given this looks to be a side any player would want to be part of at the minute.

Even so, Wood's performance on Saturday suggests 'Boro do have a decent option to step in for Fry, and he will no doubt be relishing the opportunity to prove himself once again on Tuesday.