Middlesbrough interim boss Adi Viveash admits his squad could be stretched—especially in defence—heading into Tuesday’s meeting with Championship leaders Coventry City.
Coventry arrive at the Riverside in strong form, having extended their advantage at the top of the table to seven pointsafter a comeback win over West Brom. Boro, meanwhile, dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Oxford United—an outing that also added to their growing injury list.
Already missing defenders Dael Fry, George Edmundson and Darragh Lenihan, along with attackers David Strelec, Sontje Hansen and Sverre Nypan, Boro then lost Matt Targett at half-time due to a calf problem. The severity of the issue is still unclear.
Of the four big absentees—Fry, Strelec, Hansen and Nypan—three were ruled out through injury, while Hansen was left out after returning late from international duty, having helped Curaçao qualify for the World Cup.
Providing an update after the Oxford match, Viveash said:
“Like I mentioned on Thursday, a few players picked up knocks. Dael wasn’t fit enough to play and right now, I don’t know if he’ll make Tuesday. David and Sverre both suffered bangs playing international football—Sverre on a heavy pitch—and they had to drop out of Friday’s training session. Sontje wasn’t available because he got back the latest from internationals. We’re hopeful he returns for Tuesday.
“That left us without three forwards in a game where having even one of them available could have made a difference. But that’s football. The bench was what it was, and the lads who came on did well.”
Targett’s withdrawal was another blow.
“He started feeling his calf about ten minutes before half-time,” Viveash said. “Reedy (physio Adam Reed) warned it depended whether it stiffened up—and unfortunately it did. Sending him back out would have only made it worse.”
His replacement, Sammy Silvera, stepped in valiantly.
“Sammy did a job for the team. He’s naturally a winger and though he’s filled in at wing-back before, full-back is a different challenge. He handled it well.”
Kaly Sodje also featured in an unfamiliar wide position.
“He gave everything. We just couldn’t quite create that moment for him. He’s a goalscorer—that’s why he was out there.”
With the squad stretched thin, several under-21 players filled out the matchday group, but Viveash ultimately used only three substitutes. Targett’s enforced withdrawal accounted for one of them. The manager admitted this was a match where extra attacking options would have been invaluable.
“We’ll see how the early part of next week looks,” Viveash concluded. “Hopefully we get one or two back, because right now we’re a little stretched.”
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