How we predict Boro will line up on Good Friday against Millwall
Middlesbrough team huddle(Image: Phil Oldham/Shutterstock)
Middlesbrough return to action on Friday after the international break, with this the start of one of the club’s most important run-ins for quite some time.
With seven games remaining, promotion remains a real possibility. And to kickstart their final run-in they could hardly get a more significant game. Fourth-placed Millwall visit while sitting just two points behind Boro.
In hardly ideal circumstances, Boro could be without some key midfielders due to international duty and injury. In his press conference ahead of the game, head coach Kim Hellberg was coy on whether Hayden Hackney, Riley McGree, Aidan Morris or Morgan Whittaker would be available.
So how will Boro line-up with all that in mind? Here’s our predicted team for Boro’s crucial promotion clash with Millwall at a sold-out Riverside.
GK – Sol Brynn – Perhaps the easiest pick each week is that of Brynn in goal. Joe Wildsmith signed in January on loan from West Brom, but it would require injury for him to get in ahead of the Teessider.
DC – Luke Ayling – With the options available in mind, we’re going with a back three, with respect to Millwall’s tendency to go with a forward two as well. By no means defensive, it’s a formation that allows Ayling to step out more and make the most of his ability on the ball.
DC – Dael Fry – In a game like this, Boro will need their dominant centre-back at his very best. Millwall’s strikers, including Josh Coburn, are always up for the physical battle. Fry needs to be too.
DC – Adilson Malanda – Like Ayling, Malanda can be a real asset playing out from the back, while he also has the physical attributes to help deal with Millwall’s threat too.
RWB – Callum Brittain – Playing wing-back offers Brittain the chance to aggressively attack the right wing, which he’s particularly good at. Boro need a bit more end product from him, but his efforts of late can’t be faulted.
CM – Alan Browne – Sadly, I just can’t see Morris making this game. Having finished his game with the USA at around 2am UK time – having played 80 minutes in that game no less – he then had to fly across the Atlantic to get back.
He’s surely in no state, mentally or physically, to start this game. With that in mind, Boro will need recent forward man Browne to go back to his defensive-minded midfield role.
CM – Leo Castledine – Sadly, I’m also doubtful of Hackney’s availability for this game. All signs point towards any calf injury taking longer than what he’s had to get over in time to play against Millwall.
Castledine, meanwhile, can play as an 8, has been playing full of confidence lately, and has now benefited from two weeks of uninterrupted training after his recent injury.
CM – Riley McGree – The one of the four doubts I think probably can, and therefore will, start against Millwall is McGree. His final Australia game finished at around midday on Tuesday, UK time, and he only played 25 minutes in it.
It gave him almost a 24-hour head start on Morris to get back. He performed well in that international game too, so he’s no doubt raring to go.
LWB – Matt Targett – Didn’t quite enjoy as much attacking freedom as a wing-back at Blackburn as he did at Birmingham, when he netted twice. In that one though, Conway continued his wide role which meant there wasn’t as much space for him. In this one, like Birmingham, I’d be telling Conway to stay central. Boro need their strikers in the box.
ST – David Strelec – Strelec returns from international duty having scored two goals in two games for his country. Coupled with the two he’s scored recently for Boro too, hopefully he’s in a good mood to enjoy a solid end to the season.
ST – Tommy Conway – While Conway’s played wide left a lot recently, I’d like to see him more central again. I understand Hellberg wants to make use of his running attributes, which he can’t through the middle against a low block. Nevertheless, Boro are creating plenty of chances and not finishing them. They’re getting to the byline a lot, but having no one on the end of the pull-back.
Conway and Strelec should both be in the box, even if that means sacrificing Conway’s overall impact in the game.
———-
Here at TeessideLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Middlesbrough FC coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest Boro news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
Your information will be hidden, you’ll only ever receive messages from the Teesside Live sports team, and you can leave any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.