McDonald boost for Boro

Australian back in training

Last updated: 11th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

McDonald boost for Boro

Strachan: Injury issues

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonald has returned to training.

The Australian international joined Boro on transfer deadline day.

He played two games after signing, but he was struggling with a hernia he had surgery on at Celtic.

He has now had a course of injections and is back in training, but manager Gordon Strachan does not know if he will be fit to feature against Newcastle.

"We don't know if he'll be available yet, we've got to have a look now at the reaction," said Strachan.

"It would be great to get him back again. That was more bad luck for us, he's only played four games out of eight and in those four he wasn't fully fit."

One major doubt for the game is Willo Flood, who picked up a knee-injury at Cardiff last weekend.

"He will be struggling for a while I would imagine," said Strachan.

"We're not putting a time limit on that. It's unfortunate because he's been playing very well since he came to the club."

One major boost for Boro is the return of Australian international Rhys Williams - who been resting a pelvic problem in recent weeks.

"It's huge because we've only got four recognised midfield players," said Strachan.