West Brom will hope to make the most of Middlesbrough's injury crisis as they travel to the Riverside Stadium for their EFL Championship clash. Boro could name a starting XI and four substitutes with the amount of players that are either injured, or nursing knocks and niggles.
Middlesbrough were in Carabao Cup action on Tuesday and defeated Port Vale to reach the semi-finals, however it may have come at a cost. Several players were forced off with injuries, and Michael Carrick wasn't willing to take any risks, substituting them off as a precaution. West Brom themselves have had their fair share of injuries this term, but Middlesbrough already have two players that won't play apart again this term.
West Brom are unbeaten in their last three matches against Middlesbrough, and won 3-2 earlier on in the season. Cedric Kipre, John Swift, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Jeremy Sarmiento were all on target for Carlos Corberan's side that day, and will be hoping for a similar outcome when they travel to North Yorkshire.
Several teams are playing on Friday night, and so West Brom's position could change by then, however a win would for sure make a further distance between themselves, and the chasing pack below them. Three points would get them closer to in-form Southampton, and would likely ensure a top-six spot at the half-way point of the campaign. Middlesbhrough are currently in 13th, and a win for them would take them to as high as eighth if results went in their favour.
Will Middlesbrough's players that took knocks come through at the weekend? Here are all the latest team news updates ahead of Saturday's clash between Boro and the Baggies.
1. Josh Maja (West Brom) - out
Just weeks after returning from an ankle ligaments injury, Maja suffered a similar blow to the same ankle in the defeat at Sunderland. Could be out for a long while once again. Photo: Express & Star
2. Seny Dieng - doubt
Dieng injured his thigh in the win against Swansea City on Saturday. He didn't play in the Carabao Cup tie against Port Vale, and they're still awaiting scan results.
3. Seny Dieng - doubt (continued)
Michael Carrick said on December 18: "Seny felt his thigh when he slipped taking a goal-kick. "We're still assessing that. Hopefully it won't be long but at this stage we're still waiting on results."
4. Isaiah Jones - doubt
Came on as a substitute at half-time on Tuesday night, but lasted just 22 minutes. He has a hamstring niggle, and right now it was just being treated as a precaution.