All the latest injury updates ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Riverside.
Middlesbrough and Swansea City have never met in the Premier League before, and their first meeting in the division is an important one.
Swansea currently occupy the final relegation place with hosts Boro just one place and three points above them, and both sides have injury concerns ahead of the crunch match.
Middlesbrough’s Gaston Ramirez
Speaking to Boro’s official website, manager Aitor Karanka has provided an update on the fitness of three of his key players, including key attacking midfielder Gaston Ramirez.
“Gaston we will have to check because he has been training but may not be at 100%,” he said.
“It’s an important decision to make because Gaston is an important player for us but we have a busy period so I don’t want to take a risk.”
“[Cristhian] Stuani is not available, because he still has pain in his foot. Calum [Chambers] has trained [on Friday] so I think and I am positive he will be able to play,” he added.
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard in action with Middlesbrough’s Calum Chambers
Uruguayan duo Stuani and Ramirez both missed Boro’s lacklustre 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in midweek, and supporters will be hoping the latter can pull through and feature this weekend to add a scoring threat to what so far has been a goal shy team.
Boro are the Premier League’s lowest scorers, having found the net just 13 times in their 16 matches, and they have recorded just two wins in front of their own supporters so far ahead of the visit of Swansea.
The Swans have just two absentees, with Ki Sung-Yueng and Federico Fernandez both still recovering from broken toes, but manager Bob Bradley has no fresh knocks to deal with after the midweek defeat at West Brom.
Swansea City manager Bob Bradley
City are yet to win on the road under the American, who told the club’s official website that he has been impressed by Saturday’s opponents this season.
“I have watched Middlesbrough a number of times. I think they are a good team and that Aitor Karanka has done a good job.” he said.
“I am very familiar with Alvaro Negredo thanks to one of the friendly matches between the US and Spain when he played very well,” Bradley added.
This is the first of a vital trio of matches for the Swans over the festive period, with Saturday’s trip to Boro followed by back-to-back home matches against West Ham and Bournemouth.
Who will come out on top at the Riverside? Leave your predictions below.
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