Leeds face Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday.
Tony Pulis has been quoted by Gazette Live as saying that Middlesbrough’s star strikers Britt Assombalonga and Jordan Hugill could miss Saturday’s Championship clash against Leeds United.
Boro suffered a humiliating loss to League Two side Newport County in the FA Cup on Tuesday night, losing 2-0 in the fourth-round replay as Robbie Willmott and Padraig Amond scored to send the Welsh side into the next round.
But the defeat could prove even more detrimental to Boro, who take on second-placed Leeds at the unusual time of 1pm on Saturday. That is because Pulis has admitted he could be without Assombalonga and Hugill.
Both Hugill and Assombalonga were substituted against Newport on Tuesday night and Pulis admitted that the strikers may have suffered slight muscle injuries – with the clash against Leeds just two days away.
“Britt was stiff in his groins at half-time,” Pulis said. “Jordan has got cramp, I’m hoping, rather than a strain but we won’t know until later in the week.”
West Ham loanee Hugill – who has been linked with Leeds in the past – was taken off in the 57th minute and replaced by Rudy Gestede, while another previously Leeds-linked striker in Ashley Fletcher replaced Assombalonga four minutes later.
Leeds are under pressure coming into the match, having been beaten by Norwich City 3-1 at Elland Road last time out, which saw Marcelo Bielsa’s side drop into second place. They are just three points above the play-offs.
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