Ashley Fletcher injury blow as Middlesbrough wait on Patrick Roberts deal from Manchester City

The 25-year-old was substituted during Boro’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on September 19 and wasn’t risked for the following matches against QPR and Barnsley.

Manager Neil Warnock had hoped the international break would give Fletcher time to recover fully ahead of Saturday’s game against Reading at the Riverside.

Yet the striker, who returned to light training, looks set to see a specialist this week after the issue was still causing him pain.

In Fletcher’s absence, new Boro signing Chuba Akpom has scored two goals in his first two appearances for the Teessiders after starting up front alongside Britt Assombalonga.

Warnock would ideally like to sign another striker to compete with Akpom, Assombalonga and Fletcher, yet that may prove challenging in the final few days of the transfer window.

Boro and their Championship rivals have until 5pm on Friday to sign players from English clubs, with Patrick Roberts still expected to arrive on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Warnock said Boro were close to signing the 23-year-old over a week ago, after speaking to the player ahead of the Barnsley match.

It’s unclear what the exact reason for the holdup is, yet it’s understood a deal will still go through and there was no rush due to Boro not having a game over the weekend.

Boro have also looked at signing another centre-back before Friday’s deadline, while the Teessiders were credited with interest in Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman last week.

Elsewhere, Paddy McNair played 83 minutes during Northern Ireland’s 1-0 defeat by Austria on Sunday evening.

The 25-year-old was withdrawn in the 80th minute during his country’s Euro qualifier win over Bosnia on Thursday, with manager Ian Baraclough revealing the player was suffering with cramp.

McNair’s Boro team-mate George Saville played the full 90 minutes and extra time against Bosnia but was an unused substitute against Austria.

Northern Ireland have another Nations League match this week, with Baraclough’s set to travel to Norway for a match on Wednesday.

They will return to the UK in the early hours of Thursday morning.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Hi, our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club every single day, home and away, 365 days a year.

This depth of Boro coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at the Hartlepool Mail, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package.

You'll find all the details at www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/subscriptions/sports

Your support is much appreciated.

Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor