Middlesbrough Suffer Triple Defensive Blow Before Hull Visit

Middlesbrough are once again grappling with serious defensive concerns ahead of Hull City’s visit to the Riverside Stadium, after a frustrating Boxing Day stalemate with Blackburn Rovers left three defenders injured.

Boro were held to a 0-0 draw by Rovers, a result that already felt disappointing given their struggles to find fluency in attack. However, the frustration was compounded by a growing injury list at the back, leaving head coach Kim Hellberg with major selection worries just days before the next Championship fixture.

Alfie Jones, George Edmundson and Matt Targett are all major doubts for Monday night’s clash with Hull after being forced off during the Blackburn match. With the turnaround between games extremely short during the festive period, there is little time for recovery, and the severity of each injury remains unclear.

The situation leaves Middlesbrough with only four fit senior defenders available. One of those is Dael Fry, who returned to action on Boxing Day after replacing Edmundson at half-time. However, Fry himself has been managing a long-standing calf issue, meaning his fitness cannot be taken for granted either.

The defensive problems began early in the Blackburn match. Jones, who has been an ever-present figure this season, was forced off after just 15 minutes. The defender appeared to be struggling with an ankle problem, an issue Hellberg later confirmed had been troubling him even before kick-off. His withdrawal disrupted Boro’s defensive structure almost immediately.

Jones was replaced by Edmundson, who was making his return after a hip injury sustained prior to Hellberg’s arrival at the club. Unfortunately, Edmundson’s misfortune continued. Having only recently completed a permanent move to Middlesbrough last January, the former Ipswich Town defender has endured a difficult spell with injuries, and that trend carried on as he was unable to emerge for the second half.

The problems did not end there. With just over 15 minutes remaining, and Hellberg considering how best to use his final substitution to inject some energy into a flat attacking display, Matt Targett went down holding the upper part of his left leg. The left-back was clearly in discomfort and was unable to continue, adding a third defensive casualty to Boro’s growing list.

Speaking after the match, Hellberg admitted the situation was far from ideal but stressed it was too early to draw firm conclusions about the extent of the injuries.

“We will have to see about the defensive situation,” he said. “We need to assess how the players are. All three picked up injuries during the game.

“George couldn’t come out for the second half, and Alfie’s issue was something small that he already had before the match. Hopefully, none of them are too serious and the situation doesn’t become too dangerous for us, but right now it’s too early to give a clear answer.”

The timing could hardly be worse for Middlesbrough. After recently welcoming several defenders back to fitness, the club now finds itself facing another potential injury crisis at the back just as the busy festive schedule continues. Hull City’s visit on Monday represents another important test, and Hellberg may be forced into makeshift solutions or reliance on players carrying fitness concerns.

Beyond the injuries, the Blackburn draw highlighted further issues for Boro, particularly in attack. Despite controlling spells of the game, they failed to impose themselves in the final third or generate the usual attacking rhythm that has been a feature of their better performances this season.

As Middlesbrough prepare for Hull’s arrival, the focus will now be on medical updates and recovery timelines. With limited defensive options and little time to regroup, Hellberg faces a difficult balancing act between managing player fitness and maintaining competitiveness during a crucial run of fixtures.