Fabio blow rocks Boro, as Karanka awaits Friend news
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka hopes for good news on the injury status of left-back George Friend ahead of Sunday’s Premier League visit to West Brom.
But fellow defender Fabio looks certain to miss out.
Debutant Fabio was forced off with an injury in Wednesday’s EFL Cup tie at Fulham, and Friend, who replaced the Brazilian, had to come off just before the final whistle in normal time.
Karanka said on Fabio: “It’s his knee, I don’t think he’s going to be ready for the weekend.
“It’s a shame. Fabio came here to help us and in the first game that he could play he showed us he’s a good player – especially injured – when he supplied the cross for Nuge (David Nugent) to score.
“We’ll try to get him well soon.
“I’m waiting to hear back from the doctor to see how George is.”
Boro succumbed to a 2-1 defeat after extra time at Fulham, a major disappointment after taking the lead with Nugent’s goal.
Karanka wants a positive response at The Hawthorns. “I said after the game against Sunderland that I was really pleased and confident with the team and now we have to recover as soon as possible,” said Karanka. “Not just the legs, also our heads.
“We have to go to West Brom knowing that it’s a really important game and the past is the past. We need to try and win the game again.
“I hope it can be the opposite (of Fulham) and that this result will have an impact on Sunday and that we’ll go to the pitch in the same way that we did against Stoke or Sunderland.”
Boro’s Under-23s won 2-1 at Norwich City in last night’s Premier League 2 Division 2 clash, thanks to goals from Robbie Tinkler and Joao Morelli.