AITOR KARANKA will spend the next four days carefully monitoring the fitness of Jonathan Woodgate in the hope the defender is fit for his first game as Middlesbrough manager.

Karanka was quick to single out Woodgate as a player he feels will be an essential part of the club’s new approach.

But the 33-year-old’s history for a series of injuries is something the Spaniard is well aware of and accepts he will have to manage.

Woodgate missed Mark Venus’ last match in charge as caretaker boss against Watford with a groin problem but there is a chance he could face his old club Leeds United this Saturday.

Karanka described the centre-back as a key man in the new project to achieve promotion during his opening press conference six days ago and intends to do everything he can to have the player leading his team out.

The new Boro boss - hoping to have the defender on the training pitch for the first time today - has watched footage of the way the team has played this season, but knows enough about Woodgate already because of his previous spell at Real Madrid.

Woodgate started his career at Elland Road when he joined Leeds from school after leaving reputable youth football club Marton in Middlesbrough. He spent five years there during exciting times for Leeds before leaving for Newcastle in a £9m deal in January 2003.

Another injured centre-back, Seb Hines, is also being assessed with the hamstring problem he suffered against Watford on November 9.

Karanka continues to work without his own backroom staff in training and it had been hoped he would have had something in place yesterday ahead of Saturday’s game.

But there was no word from the Riverside Stadium yesterday, with talks continuing to make changes. Venus and coaches Stephen Pears and Mark Proctor have not been involved since the new man’s arrival.

Whatever team Middlesbrough send out at Leeds, there is an acceptance from within the boardroom that patience will be crucial. Chairman Steve Gibson, though, does want to develop a style capable of sustaining long-term success.

He said: “The style of football we would like is a style that is required to make us competitive, to make us challenge at the right end of the Championship and to get us in to the Premier League.

“When we get there we have to retain our Premier League status. We have to move with the times, we have to be able to compete. It’s what the town wants, it’s what the fans want and it’s what I want for the club.”

Karanka will have to come up with a plan to thwart former Tony Mowbray target Ross McCormack on Saturday.

The Leeds striker, who signed a new contract with the Whites after three offers from the Teesside club were knocked back, has withdrawn from the Scotland squad because of a hamstring problem.

But McCormack has insisted he will be fit to face Middlesbrough once he has allowed the niggle to settle down.

* Middlesbrough fans can meet Jonathan Woodgate, Richie Smallwood and Stuart Parnaby tomorrow.

All three players will be at club’s store in Middlesbrough town centre between 4-5pm to sign items of official merchandise and pose for photographs.

* Middlesbrough Under-21s were knocked out of the League Cup last night when Everton edged a dramatic tie 3-2 at the Riverside Stadium.

Everton were in command when Matthew Kennedy and Chris Long put the Toffees ahead before the break.
But Middlesbrough responded with a goal six minutes after half-time when Jordan Jones curled over a beautiful finish from the edge of the box.
And when Wilson Kneeshaw neatly placed a nice low finish over the line with seven minutes remaining, extra-time looked on. But then Long headed in the winner with four minutes remaining to secure a place in the next round.
Middlesbrough: Coddington, Atkinson (Weledji 16), Burn (Tinkler 76), Jackson, Bennett, B Halliday (Meling 52), Waters, Jones, Kneeshaw, Wyke, Kitching. Subs: Fryer (gk), Park.
Everton: Springthorpe, Pennington, Touray, Lundstram, Kenny, Browning, Williams (Ledson 74), Grant (Duffus 86), Hope, Long, Kennedy (Green 86). Subs: Griffiths (gk), McLaughlin.