Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate provides injury update ahead of Wigan Athletic clash

Middlesbrough head coach Jonathan Woodgate has been encouraged by Dael Fry’s return to fitness and is hopeful the defender will make his first-team return this week.

By Joe Nicholson

Published 20th Aug 2019, 10:17 BST

Updated 20th Aug 2019, 11:21 BST

Middlesbrough defender Dael Fry has been sidelined since April with a hamstring injury.

The Teessiders face Wigan Athletic at the Riverside tonight before a second consecutive home game against Millwall on Saturday.

Fry, 21, has been sidelined since April with a hamstring injury but played 60 minutes for the under-23 side on Friday evening, with Woodgate in attendance.

“Dael has done really well,” said Woodgate ahead of the Wigan clash. “Lets see for Tuesday or for Saturday but he’s going to be a big plus for this football club being back fit.”

Hayden Coulson and Rudy Gestede were both absent through injury at Blackburn on Saturday and the former is expected to miss the rest of the month with a thigh injury.

“I think Rudy should be ok for the (Wigan) game,” added Woodgate. “Hayden is still not 100 per cent right yet.”