Jonathan Woodgate provides injury update on key Middlesbrough duo after Tottenham defeat

Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate has revealed that Daniel Ayala will be sidelined for around four weeks with an ankle injury.

By Joe Nicholson

Published 15th Jan 2020, 08:30 BST

Updated 16th Jan 2020, 13:50 BST

Defender aniel Ayala has captained Middlesbrough for most of the season.

The Spanish defender hasn’t featured since Boro’s 2-0 win over Preston on New Year’s Day, with the extent of the injury previously unknown.

Following his side’s FA Cup defeat to Tottenham on Tuesday night, Woodgate was once again asked about the 29-year-old centre-back, to which he replied: “I’d say three or four weeks, probably four weeks.”

That would rule Ayala out of Boro’s next five Championship games, with Fulham, Birmingham, Blackburn, Brentford and Wigan up next for the Teessiders.

Woodgate was also asked about top scorer Britt Assombalonga who has been out for over a month with an ankle issue.

“Not sure on Brit, he trained but then he struggled with it and he’s not right yet,” said Woodgate, who confirmed the striker didn’t travelled to London for the games against Spurs and Fulham this week.