Middlesbrough injury update ahead of Blackburn Rovers clash
Blackburn Rovers will face a Middlesbrough side with mixed injury news when the two Championship clubs meet at Ewood Park on Saturday. Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has confirmed that midfielder Aidan Morris will return from injury, but new signing Ashley Phillips will miss the game as he continues to build up his fitness.
What happened to Ashley Phillips?
Phillips, who joined Middlesbrough from Tottenham Hotspur just before last weekend's 2-1 win over Lincoln City, is still working his way back to full match sharpness. Hellberg explained that the centre-back has not had much pre-season training and needs more time to get up to speed. "He's one of the only few who's not in for selection on Saturday," Hellberg said. "We need to be careful with when we involve him and how we build him up."
Aidan Morris returns for Middlesbrough
The good news for Middlesbrough is that USA international Aidan Morris is fit to play after missing the wins over Wrexham and Lincoln City. Hellberg confirmed that Morris will "absolutely participate in the game." Striker David Strelec could also be involved, though he is likely to start on the bench if he passes a fitness test.
What comes next for Blackburn Rovers?
Blackburn Rovers, who finished 20th in the Championship last season with 52 points (13W-13D-20L), will be looking to start the new campaign on a positive note. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, will be aiming to build on their opening-day win over Lincoln City. The match at Ewood Park promises to be an intriguing contest between two sides with different ambitions for the season.
