Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Rovers preview - Clayton banned for Rovers clash

Posted Friday, November 28, 2014 by PA

Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton will miss Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Blackburn through suspension.

Clayton was booked for the fifth time this season in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Wigan and will sit out at the Riverside Stadium.

Full-backs George Friend and Ryan Fredericks and midfielder Albert Adomah will suffer the same fate if they pick up a yellow card against Rovers with the deadline for five bookings coming the day after the game.

Manager Aitor Karanka otherwise has no fresh selection problems with only his long-term absentees still missing. Defenders Damia Abella (knee), Jonathan Woodgate (thigh) and Rhys Williams (Achilles) are still sidelined, as is midfielder Muzzy Carayol (knee).

Blackburn will be without Tom Cairney due to suspension, but Chris Brown is added to the squad following an injury lay-off.

Midfielder Cairney serves a one-game ban after being sent off for two bookable offences in last week's win over Leeds, with Ryan Tunnicliffe, Chris Taylor and Craig Conway all hoping to get the call to come in.

Summer signing Brown has yet to feature for Rovers due to a knee problem but came through a Lancashire Senior Cup clash with Manchester United in midweek.

Loan signing Jason Steele is unavailable against his parent club, while Jason Lowe, Josh King and Tommy Spurr remain sidelined.