Boro at the leaders

Middlesbrough are in Friday night action with a visit to leaders Blackburn Rovers in the live televised game (kick-off 7.45pm).

The visitors have almost a full squad to select from although manager Tony Mowbray will still be required to make late checks on several
of his players.

Skipper Rhys Williams and striker Curtis Main are their only longer-term casualties at present while midfielder Nicky Bailey is back in training after a hamstring injury. Striker Lukas Jutkiewicz could be one to return to the side.

Boro lost heavily at second-placed Blackpool in midweek but Mowbray wasn't envisaging many changes, preferring instead to give his
players an immediate chance to put it right.

"There are no injuries as such but there are a few niggles and a few who are touch and go. We'll have a look at them in training and get a clearer picture of whether it's worth taking a risk on starting them," he told Boro's official website. "Some of them have and some haven't played a lot of football after coming back from injuries."

Rovers are without hamstring-victim Marcus Olsson and forward Colin Kazim-Richards, who is suffering with a back problem. But defender Gael Givet could return from a dead-leg.

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