Jordan Hugill and Britt Assombalonga to be assessed before Boro host Leeds

Posted Friday, February 08, 2019 by PA

Middlesbrough strikers Jordan Hugill and Britt Assombalonga face late fitness tests before the home Sky Bet Championship game against Leeds.

Hugill and Assombalonga were both forced out of the midweek FA Cup defeat at Newport, but boss Tony Pulis was guarded over the pair’s availability.

Midfielders George Saville (ankle) and Lewis Wing (groin) will also be monitored.

Pulis made five changes for the cup defeat and the likes of goalkeeper Darren Randolph, Mo Besic, Ryan Shotton and John Obi Mikel are expected to return to the starting line-up.

Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa must check on Pablo Hernandez, Adam Forshaw and Mateusz Klich, who are all doubtful.

Hernandez (groin), Forshaw and Klich (both knee) are in a race to be fit, while Bielsa has confirmed both Kalvin Phillips and Jamie Shackleton, unused substitutes in last week’s home defeat to Norwich, are expected to start.

Striker Patrick Bamford is pushing for a return to the starting XI after recovering from a knee injury.

It remains to be seen whether Izzy Brown will be involved. Defender Gaetano Berardi and winger Stuart Dallas are all out.