Neil Warnock provides Ashley Fletcher and Yannick Bolasie injury updates as Middlesbrough boss hopes for injury boosts for Swansea and Stoke

The Middlesbrough striker limped off with a glute injury during last week’s 3-1 defeat by Bristol City and missed the weekend’s draw with Cardiff.

Fletcher will also be sidelined for this week’s away matches against Coventry and Swansea, but could play a part when Boro host Stoke on March, 13.

“I’ve just seen him come in through the door and he said he’s doing some running and going up some hills today,” said Warnock when asked about Fletcher.

"Hopefully it’s not as bad as we thought and we can get this week out of the way.

"I think we’ve got a blank mid-week the week after so you never know he could be available for the Stoke game, that might be a bit too optimistic I don’t know.

Warnock is hopeful Yannick Bolasie could play a part against Swansea at the weekend after recovering from a hamstring issue.

"Yannick is training quite well so I’m hoping he’ll be involved at some stage on Saturday,” Warnock added.

Boro did welcome back midfielder Marcus Tavernier against Cardiff, while Nathanial Mendez-Laing made his first start for the club since joining in January.

"It was nice to get Tavernier back on the field on Saturday and he lasted the game which I didn’t expect him to, that was a plus for us,” said Warnock.

”Mendez got 70 minutes so that was also another plus for us for them to get minutes under their belt.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Middlesbrough coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor