Daniel Farke’s Whites are facing a tighter turnaround than Michael Carrick’s Riversiders who played on Friday night at Burnley. A 1-1 draw for Boro has left them fifth in the table and seven points behind second-placed Leeds whose weekend fixture took place on Saturday lunchtime at home to Derby County. A 2-0 win took Leeds from third to first before the Whites dropped back to second on Sunday through Sheffield United’s 2-2 draw at West Brom. But Leeds also suffered a fresh injury blow during Saturday’s win against the Rams, details of which Farke revealed at Monday’s pre-match press conference as part of a mixed bag of team news. Boro boss Carrick also held his pre-match press conference on Monday and here we run through the team news from both camps.
7. Tommy Smith (out)
Another Boro player out with an Achilles injury and the 32-year-old right back is another expected to miss the majority of the season. Photo: Ashley Allen
8. Darragh Lenihan (out)
Boro's Republic of Ireland international defender Lenihan is expected to be out until Christmas, if not the new year having suffered an ankle injury and then a setback with his Achilles. Photo: Stu Forster
9. Rav van den Berg (back)
Boro's Netherlands under-21s defender van den Berg has not featured since suffering a knee injury in the 3-3 draw at home to Norwich City at the end of October. The 20-year-old again did not make the matchday squad for Friday night's clash at Boro but boss Michael Carrick revealed at Monday's pre-match press conference that van den Berg was now back in training. Photo: Ed Sykes
10. Lukas Engel (back)
Carrick revealed at Monday's pre-match press conference that Danish left back/midfielder has now joined back in training in a small capacity, He has not featured since August. Photo: George Wood
11. Micah Hamilton (back)
A hat-trick of fresh Boro boosts, ex-Manchester City youngster Hamilton missed Friday night's clash at Burnley and was reportedly unwell but the England youth international attacking midfielder is reportedly now fine. Photo: Richard Sellers
12. Seny Dieng (back)
First choice Boro keeper Dieng returned from a three-game absence due to illness to play the full duration of Friday night's 1-1 draw at Burnley. Photo: Gareth Copley