Middlesbrough wait on Aynsley Pears scan as Jonathan Woodgate reveals injury crisis

Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate has revealed that goalkeeper Aynsley Pears has a ‘50/50’ chance of playing against QPR this weekend.

By Joe Nicholson

Published 6th Nov 2019, 14:43 BST

Updated 6th Nov 2019, 14:48 BST

The 21-year-old shot-stopper has started Boro’s last three games in the absence of first-choice keeper Darren Randolph, who remains sidelined with a thigh issue.

But, ahead of Saturday’s fixture, Woodgate says that Pears has suffered a finger injury which will require a scan.

Woodgate came into his pre-match press conference with a list of players who will be unavailable for the weekend.

Ryan Shotton (knee), Randolph (thigh), Rudy Gestede (hamstring), Ashley Fletcher (calf) and Marcus Browne (hamstring) will all miss the trip to the capital, while Ben Liddle, who has been in the first-team squad this season, is ill.

Boro will also be without George Saville who received a straight red card against Derby last time out and will now serve a three-game ban.