BORO'S MIDWEEK INJURY ROUND-UP 3-3-2010

As things stand (ie before Pogi or Robbo or Killen gets injured on international duty) Boro's injury list is starting to look more encouraging.

I say 'encouraging' because the majority of the names on it are not first choice players, and they are, for the most part, returning to fitness.

Poor Seb Hines and Matthew Bates are still battling back from multiple surgeries after their respective ligament injuries, and are very unlikely to take part in Boro's promotion push this season.

Tony McMahon is not going to be in the team any time soon either, having discovered he had been playing with a broken foot for a couple of weeks before his wayward passing alerted Strachan to the problem.

But they are the exception, and not the rule.

Rhys Williams was told by Gordon Strachan, when he signed his new contract a few weeks ago, that he had had enough time off with his pelvic problem, and should be returning to action soon.

Williams duly pitched up at Hurworth, somehow avoiding the curse of the hamstring injury/virus combo which struck down Pogi and Killen, and has stepped up his training in a bid to get back in the side.

Pogi was being assessed by the Austrian national physios ahead of international duty this evening and Killen has overcome his hamstring problem.

Chris Riggott came back from a long term injury only to pick up a hamstring problem against Swansea, so, as yet, Strachan has not had to answer the question what will happen when all our defenders are fit?

However Riggott is also back in training.

The main worry of course is Scott McDonald.

The Australian striker arrived at Boro with soreness from a hernia operation, but bit the bullet, or a passing kangaroo, or something, to endure the pain of playing with a injection against Ipswich and showed glimpses of the kind of player Boro really need.

However instead of progressing, it was clear that the game cost McDonald a lot in terms of general fitness and he started to visibly struggle.

Given that he was not allowed another injection the next week, the problems, and presumably the pain, got worse and McDonald was sent to see a specialist.

Having been rested against QPR, McDonald has had further injections to deal with the discomfort and has a chance of being involved against Cardiff this weekend.

Almost unbelievably, neither Gary O'Neil, nor Jeremie Aliadiere is currently injured!

First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 3-3-10