Christie hopes for recall
Malcolm Christie is hoping to return to the Middlesbrough in the Uefa Cup.
Middlesbrough's forgotten man Malcolm Christie is hoping to return to the squad for Thursday's Uefa Cup tie against Banik Ostrava.Christie has not played for Boro's first team since breaking his leg last November, but is closing in on a comeback.
He appeared for the reserves against Manchester United on Monday evening and may be drafted in for the European tie in Czech Republic.
Boro boss Steve McClaren has injury concerns over his three main strikers and Christie is keen to be included on the trip.
"It's not beyond the realms of possibility that I will travel," admitted Christie.
"I know we're short of strikers, so there's a chance I will be involved."
But Boro's reserve team coach Malcolm Crosby fears the game with Banik, with the Premiership side 3-0 up from the first leg, may be too early for Christie.
Crosby commented: "He wants to play, it doesn't matter who he's playing against as long as he's playing a game of football and you can't fault him, his attitude to the game is fantastic.
"But I would say he is still around a month away in terms of being considered for first team duty.
"He needs the games, he is getting fitter and scoring goals and maybe in another two or three games he may be pushing for a first team position."
