Middlesbrough vs Sheffield Wed. preview - Woodgate woe for Boro

Posted Friday, August 22, 2014 by PA

Defender Jonathan Woodgate is out of Middlesbrough's Sky Bet Championship clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Woodgate has a slight hamstring injury and will join fellow defender Ben Gibson, who has a similar problem, on the sidelines, although neither player is expected to be out for any significant period.

Manager Aitor Karanka is still awaiting an answer from Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford on a proposed season-long loan move to the Riverside Stadium as he mulls over the opportunity to join club-mate Kenneth Omeruo on Teesside.

However, defender Christian Burgess and midfielder Richie Smallwood left the club for Peterborough and Rotherham respectively this week. Karanka otherwise has only defender Rhys Williams (Achilles) and midfielder Muzzy Carayol (cruciate ligament) on the sidelines.

Sheffield Wednesday defender Sam Hutchinson is rated 50-50 after suffering a back injury in Tuesday's 1-1 home draw with Millwall.

Midfielder Kieran Lee missed the midweek clash with the Lions due to a groin strain and won't be available again according to Stuart Gray, while defender Lewis Buxton is only just ready to return to full training.

"The players have set the standards over the first four games and I don't want them to drop below those levels," said Gray of his unbeaten team. "There will be a few different faces in the Middlesbrough side and they like to play football, but no game fears us.

"I will be setting my team up to win as I do for every game. If we can't do that, then we make sure we keep the point."