Middlesbrough sweating on Djed Spence fitness ahead of Millwall clash as ex-Charlton man nears return

Djed Spence missed Middlesbrough's defeat by QPR through injury.

Spence, 19, wasn’t in Boro’s matchday squad for Sunday’s defeat by QPR after suffering a dead leg in the game against Hull City.

The teenager had a scan on the issue which didn’t show any damage to his hamstring, yet there are still some concerns.

When asked about Spence on Tuesday morning, Warnock said: “The scan came back that he hadn’t done any permanent damage, he has got some bruising down there.

I think he’s going to train this morning so we will probably leave that as late as possible. The travelling doesn’t help him if I’m honest going down to London.”

Spence’s absence meant Jonny Howson was forced to play at right-back against QPR, a move which disrupted the team’s formation.

Warnock is hopeful he will have more options at right-back for Boro’s final five games with Anfernee Dijksteel also regaining full fitness following a knee injury.

On Spence, Warnock added: “I felt we really missed him last week because there was bags of room on that side and no disrespect to Jonny Howson but he’s not a natural player down that side.

“Dijksteel has trained the last few days as well so he could probably give me half an hour somewhere if I needed him to.

“There are things we are looking at and we’ll know more when we train at 1 o’clock.”