Middlesbrough FC news: Boro to appeal transfer ruling, defender to return against Newcastle plus Nottingham Forest team news

The 30-year-old striker joined Boro from Spanish club Real Murcia in 2014 for a reported fee of around £3million and spent 18 months at the Riverside.

Kike returned to Spain when he signed for Eibar in January 2016, before Boro were promoted to the Premier League.

Yet, according to TeamTalk, Murcia have claimed they are owed a €1million bonus fee as part of a promotion clause.

The report claims Boro refused to pay as Kike wasn’t their player and that FIFA ruled in favour of Eibar following an appeal.

The case has gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Dijksteel to step up recovery

Boro full-back Anfernee Dijksteel is expected to play 60 minutes of tonight's under-23s game against Newcastle at Herritage Park.

The 23-year-old hasn’t played competitively since the end of November after injuring his knee in the 1-0 win over Barnsley at the Riverside.

New Boro goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic, 26, could also feature after playing in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last week.

Injury latest

Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate will also hope to have more players back in the next few weeks, with Boro’s Championship status on the line.

George Friend and Ashley Fletcher were both forced off with hamstring injuries in the 1-0 defeat against Leeds on Wednesday and are due for scans on Friday.

The pair could still feature against Nottingham Forest on Monday night.