McGree, Morris, Hackney and Whittaker – Boro’s latest training ahead of Millwall

Middlesbrough injury and fitness as Kim Hellberg’s side prepare to host Millwall after the international break

Kim Hellberg remained nervous about the Middlesbrough players he will have for their crucial promotion clash with Millwall on Good Friday, as he looks to keep opponents guessing.

Boro have a number of key players in doubt for the sell-out clash at the Riverside. Hayden Hackney and Morgan Whittaker were both touch and go after missing the game at Blackburn before the international break through injury. Both were to be assessed in training towards the end of the break.

Riley McGree and Aidan Morris, meanwhile, were playing on different continents for their countries less than 48 hours ago and had long journeys back to Teesside before returning to Rockliffe on Thursday – the day before such a big game.

Hellberg said: “That’s what it is today. They’re coming back late. We play Friday morning. I still have players to talk to and check. We’ll see. It’s kind of hard for me to give too much today because I don’t know everything yet.

“The real answer is that it is difficult when the players are not there, but I am also proud of the players who are going to play for the national team. We will see if they can play, if they can play they are good players so we will try to play them.

But of course, it’s not good when a lot of players are away and we play first Friday but they don’t come back until Wednesday or Thursday, but it is what it is.

“And there are a lot of players coming back with confidence from good performances and we had a good energy in the training ground today. So it’s building on that and seeing the positives from it.

But, of course, if you had to choose, you wouldn’t have six players two weeks before a game like this.

I can’t give you good answers about the players that way. Maybe it’s easier for me to do it after the game.

Regarding whether McGree and / or Morris are able to play after traveling between continents to return to Teesside 48 hours ago, he said he will have appropriate discussions with the players, as well as the medical staff, before making his final decision.

“It has to be a conversation between me and them,” said the Boro boss. It has to be, but you can see in this team, everyone wants to play, they are ready to play, and I think they have shown that this season they are fighters.

“Most of them are fighters and they do everything they can. The ball doesn’t always go the way we want it to go, but you can’t take away from this team that they are a team that fights very hard for the shirt, for the team, and they run.

“We are above every number of players in this league. So they want to play, but of course you need to get a measure, if possible. Are they doing 90 or 60, or whatever. But they all want to play.”

As well as returning internationals, Boro were hoping to get players back from injury, with Hayden Hackney and Morgan Whittaker missing the last game, while Alfie Jones and Sammy Silvera are coming in after long absences.

Regarding Hackney and Whittaker, Hellberg said: “That’s right [Hackney] probably one of the best players in the league and our top goalscorer [Whittaker]. So, of course, for us, that is difficult. They are here and they are coming back.

“Again, as international players, we will see. It’s the same thing. It will be difficult for me to give you the answers to those questions. Players returning or players injured. It would be easier for me to do it after the game.”

Hellberg would go on to explain why he wanted to remain tight-lipped about the availability of certain players for the game, as he was asked if Hackney or Whittaker had been able to practice.

That’s a tough question coming from you. I’m trying! he said with a smile. But what they trained, I can’t tell you. I think it’s very simple for me: it’s better to keep those questions behind because I don’t want to give things away.

“There’s no reason to give something away to the opposition. I can tell you a good picture after the game, but let’s keep them guessing for a bit, then we can give all the information we can after the game to all our supporters. For now, we’ll see.”

Another player who was ruled out for the game was Jones. It is understood the midfielder is closing in on a return for the run, having been such a key player in the first half of the season.

But for this game against Millwall, Hellberg was happy to confirm that he will not be available for this one. He simply said: “He’s getting better, but he won’t play in the game.”

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