Rangers target Britt Assombalonga was left out of Middlesbrough’s squad this weekend, with manager Neil Warnock confirming to the Northern Echo that the out-of-contract striker was fit to play.
With the 28-year-old due to become a free agent in July, is Warnock simply planning for life without Boro’s £15 million record signing?
Maybe so.
For the second matchday in a row, Assombalonga was conspicuous by his absence, left at home as Middlesbrough travelled to Millwall on Saturday.
Ironically enough, Warnock could have done with the former Nottingham Forest star’s predatory instincts as the North East outfit went down in the capital; a defeat that felt like a dagger blow to their fading promotion prospects.
But, speaking after a frustrating loss in the Lions’ Den, Warnock backed up his decision to drop Assombalonga for 18-year-old Josh Coburn.
“Britt is fit, but I thought it was time to give Josh Coburn a bit of experience away from home,” explained the straight-talking 72-year-old.
“I was going to put Ashley Fletcher on before him at the moment, so he was fit to be selected today.”
According to GiveMeSport, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has identified Assombalonga as a cut-price addition to his title-winning frontline.
But with just five goals in 30 games this season, the £15 million striker’s Middlesbrough career looks destined to end with a whimper.
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