Boro striker crisis deepens

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate could go into Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash at Manchester City with just one fit striker.

Rookie front man Tom Craddock is on standby to make his first Boro start after Lee Dong-Gook became the fourth forward to be struck by the club’s injury curse.

Craddock, 20, is the only fully fit attacker at the manager’s disposal ahead of the trip to Eastlands, after South Korean Lee joined Mido (hamstring), Tuncay Sanli (bruised ankle) and Jeremie Aliadiere (hamstring) in the treatment room.

Southgate simply has option but to give all of his walking wounded – except Aliadiere – the longest possible time available to prove their fitness.

Reading between the lines, Tuncay and Lee may have an outside chance of at least making the bench.

Assessing his players’ chances of being passed fit, Southgate said: “Mido looks like he will struggle for the weekend but we’ve still got another 24 hours.

“Tuncay has trained extensively with the medical team and the pair of them will be assessed again before we travel.

“Dong-Gook’s got a slight problem with his back but again that’s one we will look at again over the next 24 hours.”

The situation is a desperate one for both club and manager. With games to come against Manchester United and Chelsea, Boro can’t afford a third straight defeat at City.

But with the defence shipping goals at a rate of almost two per game, the onus is on the strikers to find the net after managing two in the last four outings.

Southgate is refusing to dwell on the negatives and instead wants to concentrate on coming up with a gameplan that can thwart a resurgent City.

He said: “It’s clear to see that we’re missing several players from the team that was playing well a few weeks ago but we’ve got to get on with it.

“There’s no point us complaining or whingeing about it, we’re in this situation and we go with the players that are available and the team has to get a result.

“We know after this match there is a couple of weeks without a game and that means there’s time for people to come back in but we’ve got to go to Manchester City with the resolve and passion to go there and try to win the game.

Southgate had both good and bad news to report on the goalkeeping front.

Mark Schwarzer’s regular deputy Brad Jones has been ruled out for six weeks with a thigh strain but Cardiff boss Dave Jones has allowed Ross Turnbull to return early from a season-long loan to take his place on the subs’ bench tomorrow.

The game could prove to be a huge stepping stone in Craddock’s career.

The Darlington-born striker, who scored his only league goal to date in his one and only loan appearance with Wrexham last season, has a genuine opportunity to make a name for himself, if selected.

Describing his strengths, Southgate said: “Tom’s a good finisher, he’s scored goals on regular basis for the reserves and his movement is very good.

“He started as a defender in the Academy, moved up front and has prospered from that.

He’s got a terrific attitude to the game, he’s got an edge to him and he wants to well and it’s a bonus for him to get the chance he’s having ay the moment.“

The Boro boss also confirmed defender Andrew Davies is discussing terms with several clubs.