Jonathan Woodgate defends Middlesbrough's training regime amid injury crisis

Jonathan Woodgate doesn’t believe Middlesbrough’s training regime is to blame for this month’s injury crisis.
Britt Assombalonga has missed parts of training this week with an ankle issue.Britt Assombalonga has missed parts of training this week with an ankle issue.
Britt Assombalonga has missed parts of training this week with an ankle issue.

Boro will be without six first-team players through injury for Saturday’s trip to Leeds, with Ryan Shotton (knee), Marcus Browne (hamstring), Darren Randolph (thigh), George Friend (thigh), Rudy Gestede (hamstring) and Anfernee Dijksteel (knee) all sidelined.

Key duo Paddy McNair and Britt Assombalonga have also missed parts of training this week but may have to play at Elland Road due to Boro’s lack of options.

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Woodgate did admit he would have preferred to offer his senior players more recovery time this season, yet circumstances have dictated the heavy workloads.

“Yes, probably,” said Woodgate when asked if the injuries were down to too many games. ”The squad's not big enough, we've said that from the start, that's one of the reasons.

“You'd like to try and freshen things up at times, you'd like to give Britt a rest, or (Ashley) Fletcher a rest or McNair, who's played every single game and every single game on international duty.

“You'd like to freshen it up because the players do need freshening up.”

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When asked if any injuries were down to work on the training pitch, Woodgate replied: “No, knees, ankles, contacts.

“You can't do anything about knees and ankles, the majority have happened in games really so it's difficult at times.

“Okay muscle injuries are different, but injuries happen and you can't do anything about it.”