A look at who is in and who is out for Middlesbrough ahead of FA Cup tie vs Tottenham Hotspur
Speaking in his pre-match conference ahead of his side’s fifth-round FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur (h/t Teesside Live), Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder is set to welcome back key midfielder Matt Crooks to his squad ahead of tonight’s game.
Crooks is returning from a two-game suspension that he has now served and is expected to take his place in Boro’s midfield as they look to take on a Spurs side that is coming off an impressive 4-0 win against Leeds United in the Premier League.
Wilder’s side meanwhile, are currently in eighth place in the Championship after having lost away to Barnsley the previous weekend. Despite a second-half revival that saw them score twice, Middlesbrough could not avoid a 3-2 away loss in the league.
Crooks was crucial to his side’s run in the FA Cup last time around, as his equalising goal against Manchester United saw the game end with a penalty shootout that the Championship side eventually won.
Spurs wary of giant killers
Despite being the favourites heading into the game, Tottenham will be wary of the way their opponents played against United at Old Trafford, standing resolute in the face of multiple waves of attack from the home side.
Crooks’ return is a big boost for Wilder, but the manager is unsure whether he could also see welcome back Riley McGree, who did not play the previous game as a precaution due to a tight calf issue. The Boro boss was hopeful of having the Australian play tonight, but could not give any guarantees.
Spurs meanwhile, have been plagued by injuries as they will miss Oliver Skipp, Japhet Tanganga, Lucas Moura, and Rodrigo Bentancur. Bentancur and Skipp are crucial losses for head coach Antonio Conte, who is short of midfield options at the moment.
Moura was fit when Conte addressed the media prior to their PL clash against Leeds, but the Brazilian succumbed to an injury during training and was subsequently ruled out of the match. The Italian boss will hope that his side can pull through the Boro game without picking up any more injuries.
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Tottenham are one injury away in midfield to spark a crisis at the club, as they currently only have Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Winks available as the senior midfielders in the squad.
Tomorrow’s match is crucial for Conte and his side, as they look to progress further in the FA Cup. The competition is a realistic option as a trophy that Spurs can win, and they will need to be at their best tonight to ensure that the first step towards that dream is taken.