Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren is waiting to discover the extent of Joseph-Desire Job’s knee injury. Job twisted his knee in training and is now out of this Sunday’s match against Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium. The 25-year-old Cameroon international, whose goal against Everton on September 21 secured the club’s first Premiership win of the season, will be sent to a specialist for an assessment of the damage, but his run in the side will come to an end this weekend.
But there was some good news for McClaren with Gaizka Mendieta, Gareth Southgate and Massimo Maccarone hoping to be available to face Chelsea.
Mendieta should recover from a calf injury and Southgate hopes to overcome a groin problem in time to play.
Maccarone will play for the reserves on Wednesday and, if he comes through the match unscathed, the Italian may also be available to McClaren for the weekend.
But Boro will be with Boudewijn Zenden for the game as he is on loan from Chelsea and a clause in his temporary move to Middlesbrough stipulates he cannot play against the London side.
