Middlesbrough interim manager Adi Viveash says his team could be strained, particularly in defence, ahead of Tuesday’s match against Championship leaders Coventry City.
Coventry come into the Riverside in good form, having extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points following a comeback victory over West Brom. Boro, meanwhile, squandered points in a 1-1 draw with Oxford United, which contributed to their expanding injury list.
Boro had already lost defenders Dael Fry, George Edmundson, and Darragh Lenihan, as well as strikers David Strelec, Sontje Hansen, and Sverre Nypan, when Matt Targett suffered a calf injury at halftime. The seriousness of the problem is still uncertain.
Three of the four key absentees—Fry, Strelec, Hansen, and Nypan—were ruled out due to injury, while Hansen was left out after returning late from international duty, where he helped Curaçao qualify for the World Cup.
Viveash provided an update following the Oxford encounter, stating that a few players had injuries, as previously indicated on Thursday. Dael wasn’t fit enough to play, and I’m not sure if he’ll be able to make Tuesday. David and Sverre both sustained bangs while playing international football, with Sverre on a heavy pitch, and were forced to miss Friday’s training. Sontje was not available because he had received the most recent international results. We’re hoping he’ll return on Tuesday.
“That left us without three forwards in a game where even having one available may have made a difference. But that is football. The bench was what it was, and the players who came on performed admirably.”
Targett’s withdrawal dealt additional blow.
“He started feeling his calf about ten minutes before half-time,” Viveash informed me. “Reedy (physio Adam Reed) warned it depended on whether it stiffened—which it did, unfortunately.” Sending him back out would have made things worse.”
Sammy Silvera, his successor, stepped in valiantly.
“Sammy performed his part for the team. He is a natural winger, and while he has previously played wing-back, full-back is a different challenge. “He handled it well.”
Kaly Sodje also played at an unaccustomed wide position.
“He provided everything. We couldn’t exactly capture that moment for him. He’s a goalscorer, which is why he was out there.”
With the roster stretched thin, several under-21 players made up the matchday squad, but Viveash only employed three replacements. Targett’s forced withdrawal accounted for one of them. The manager agreed that in this match, having more attacking alternatives would have been useful.
“We’ll see how the early part of next week looks,” Viveash concluded. “Hopefully we get one or two back, because right now we’re a little stretched.”
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