Charlton Athletic and Bristol City boost as Middlesbrough handed big injury concern

Charlton Athletic and Bristol City have been handed a potential boost ahead of taking on promotion-chasing Middlesbrough this week.

Boro boosted their promotion hopes with a 4-0 romp over QPR on Sunday afternoon, increasing the gap between themselves and Millwall in third to four points. However, there was one blow for Boro amid the celebrations.

Kim Hellberg was forced into an early change after 31 minutes with captain Dael Fry limping off the pitch. The 28-year-old academy graduate had pulled up with a muscle problem and received treatment on the pitch for what looked to be an issue around his thigh.

Adilson Malanda came off the bench but the injury did not look promising for Fry. The centre-back’s absence would come as a huge blow for Middlesbrough.

The player is not only skipper but had only returned from injury at the start of January. Fry has only started four games since his comeback in an injury-ridden campaign.

Middlesbrough handed injury blow ahead of Charlton Athletic

Speaking after the game, Hellberg tried to played down concern but admitted the defender would need to be looked at. He said: “I think he’s okay. He said it’s more of precaution, but we will see. It’s hard to say after the game.”

News of a potential absence for Fry will be more welcomed by Boro’s upcoming opposition in Charlton Athletic and Bristol City. The Addicks travel to the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night before the North East outfit host Bristol City at the weekend.

Boro sit second in the Championship and both Charlton Athletic and Bristol City will go into those clashes away from home as underdogs, although an unsettled back line at the Riverside could entice forward players.

The Addicks have their own injury problem to manage with Reece Burke, Luke Berry and Collins Sichenje joining Harvey Knibbs on the treatment table. Speaking after the win over Birmingham City at the weekend, Charlton Athletic manager Jones lamented the Championship scheduling.

The London outfit travel to Oxford United in the early kick off on Saturday after a midweek visit to Middlesbrough. Jones said: “We’re taking it day by day. We can’t push it because he could get re-injured. The Championship is such a relentless league and the travelling, the tempo, the game. There’s not enough time for your muscles to recover.

“Someone puts us away at Middlesbrough at 8 pm on Wednesday night and then it’s a 12:30 pm kick off away at Oxford on Saturday. It’s crazy, they have no idea what footballers go through.”

In other news, 'I'm Baffled': Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones singles out Birmingham City player as referee criticised.