According to a report by Teesside Live, Middlesbrough forward Martin Braithwaite has missed their first two pre-season games because of two very specific reasons.
Braithwaite has previously expressed his desire to leave Middlesbrough this summer, following a war of words between the forward and previous boss Tony Pulis. However, with Woodgate the new man at the helm, the Dane could be given another chance.
However, Braithwaite is yet to be involved with Boro in their two pre-season games so far. Their first game was against Grazer AK, a 2-0 loss out in Austria, and the forward was given an increased break after his duties with the Danish national set up in recent weeks.
In their second game, a 3-1 win played out last night against National League side Gateshead, Braithwaite was again not included in the match day squad. Teesside Live report that the striker had picked up a thigh knock in training and chose to sit out his side’s second game in a row.
Braithwaite’s future remains uncertain with one month of the transfer window left to go. Leganes were interested in re-signing him, however, it seems both the wage demands of the player and the asking price from Middlesbrough are both stumbling blocks.
He was originally signed by former manager Garry Monk, arriving for around £9 million from Toulouse back in 2017. In two years on Teesside he has played just 38 games, although this is mostly due to being shipped out on loan.
He enjoyed successful spells at Bordeaux in France and Leganes in Spain, keeping his place in the Denmark squad on the back of his performances at these loan clubs.
It is now a waiting game whether he gets a chance to impress the new boss after all.
