Middlesbrough hit by Boateng blow
Friday, December 23, 2005
Article summary
Middlesbrough FC manager Steve McClaren is reflecting on a "big blow" after midfield player George Boateng was ruled out for eight weeks.
Article body
Middlesbrough FC midfield player George Boateng has been ruled out for eight weeks after damaging his ankle ligaments.
Sorely missed
The Dutchman sustained the injury during his side's last-gasp English League Cup defeat by Blackburn Rovers FC on Wednesday. He will now be sidelined until mid-February, and with Middlesbrough currently languishing in the bottom half of the English Premiership table, manager Steve McClaren believes he will be sorely missed.
'Big blow'
"It's a big blow," he said. "George is a key player - we know just how important he is to the team." Boateng, who was ruled out of much of last season with a similar injury, is therefore doubtful for Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie against Stuttgart VfB.
