Middlesbrough dealt big injury setback as Neil Warnock confirms first-team players will miss Millwall clash

The 32-year-old limped off during Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat at Preston after starting every league game so far this season.

"He’ll be out a while,” said Warnock when asked about Howson ahead of Saturday’s game against Millwall. “We are not sure if it’s a two week or a four week job.

"He’s had it for a few weeks, the thing is when you do scans at Jonny Howson’s age there is always going to be something that shows up from little niggles.

"We are going to send it for a second opinion after the scan.”

Boro have also been without defender Anfernee Dijksteel for the last three matches and the 24-year-old is still regaining his match fitness.

"He did some running yesterday, he hasn’t sprinted yet so he’ll do it this morning probably,” said Warnock.

“He hasn’t had any effect with normal jogging but you don’t with hamstrings so we are not going to get carried away. If it means leaving him until Wednesday we will do.”

Boro defender Nathan Wood will also be unavailable this weekend as the teenager has been told to self-isolate.

"I’m disappointed that Woodsy will be out for a while,” added Warnock. “He probably would have played tomorrow.

“It’s disappointing at a time we don’t need that and that’s why I’m stressing to the other lads, not just them, their girlfriends and parents, they have to be careful now.

“At a time when we have a lot of injuries we can’t afford these things.”

Ashley Fletcher and Grant Hall remain out with long-term injuries.

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