Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg had a positive injury update ahead of Preston North End
Riley McGree of Middlesbrough arrives(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Middlesbrough could welcome some of his recently-injured players back to the match-day on squad on Saturday for Preston North End’s visit.
Kim Hellberg had revealed on Tuesday ahead of the trip to Stoke City that a number of players were close to a return, with some even already back in training. Though none made the squad on Wednesday, Hellberg says Saturday could be time.
Of those out injured, Darragh Lenihan, George Edmundson and Alex Bangura are believed to be longer term absentees, but Callum Brittain, Riley McGree, David Strelec and Kaly Sene are believed to be close and potentially in contention for the weekend.
Hellberg tends to like to keep such news as under wraps as possible, so when asked specifically, he joked he would allow for one specific player, to which he offered a positive update on McGree.
The Boro boss said: “There will be some players back, which is good. Riley McGree is one who is back. Of course, they have been out for a while so I don’t know if anyone is ready to start.
“But there will be players back and that’s good. And if they’re not back this week, then they will probably be back the next week, so it’s looking much better for us.”
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Boro host Preston North End this weekend in a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday. It makes for a quick turnaround for Boro, who were away at Stoke City on Wednesday evening before travelling back to Teesside immediately after.
In that game, Boro were required to come from behind after an error from Sol Brynn saw him beaten too easily by Tomas Rigo’s effort. But the Teessider went on to make a number of good saves thereafter to offer the platform for Boro to turn it around and win the game.
Asked about Brynn, Hellberg said: “I don’t know what I should tell him about that – he didn’t see it very well, but it was a shot he should have saved, he knows that, everyone knows it.
“He was probably the most disappointed about it, but then he made two really big saves for us. He made a brilliant save when we could have been 2-0 down, and that save was a game-winning save for us.
“Then, he also did some really good things in the air in the late stages of the game. I didn’t need to tell him to respond because he did that in the game in the best of ways. I think that was strong from him, it shows character.
“Knowing you’re disappointed in the first one but then doing those big saves and important things towards the end of the game. He showed his character, and responded really, really well during the game, which is all we need.”
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