Jonathan Woodgate explains plans for Celtic friendly and provides Middlesbrough injury update

Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate says George Friend and Ryan Shotton will play in a friendly against Celtic on Tuesday.

The experienced pair have both been sidelined for over two months through injury but could be available to face Luton next weekend.

Friend, 32, and Shotton, 31, played 60 and 90 minutes respectively as Boro’s under-23 side beat Blackburn 4-1 on Friday night.

When asked about the duo following his side’s 3-2 defeat at Brentford, head coach Jonathan Woodgate said: "They will play another 90 minutes against Celtic on Tuesday."That will be some under-23s and some first-team players."

Boro’s senior side will face Wigan at the DW Stadium on the same day and Woodgate expects to have the same squad available as the one which travelled to Brentford.

Woodgate also said that Daniel Ayala (ankle) and Anfernee Dijksteel (knee) are around ‘two to three weeks’ away from making their returns.