Middlesbrough face another huge game in the Championship on Saturday afternoon when Ipswich Town are the visitors to The Riverside Stadium.
Boro have a narrow two point lead over promotion rivals Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion at the top of the Championship and gaining another three points against The Tractor Boys is absolutely crucial in their quest for Premier League football.
The Teessiders go into their latest Championship match with doubts over defender George Friend who is struggling with a hamstring problem but loanee Ritchie de Laet is available to slot in at left back. Uruguayan striker Cristhian Stuani is available for selection once again after serving suspension.
Ipswich Town travel to the North East short of available attacking players. Daryl Murphy (calf), Luke Varney (hamstring) and Larsen Toure (groin) are all ruled out although creative on loan midfielder Ben Pringle returns to the side. Town manager Mick McCarthy has hinted on the possibility of handing an unnamed academy product a start at The Riverside Stadium with the club’s Play Off chances now all but over.
Middlesbrough go into the match on the back of a seven match unbeaten sequence which has seen the club win six and draw once. Ipswich Town’s record at The Riverside Stadium is less than impressive with the Suffolk side losing on all of their last three trips to Teesside.
