MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Aitor Karanka has admitted discipline will be crucial in his side’s quest for success this season having lost three players to suspension recently.

Dean Whitehead and Albert Adomah both return to the squad for tomorrow’s game against Fulham at the Riverside Stadium having been sent off in the games against Brentford and Charlton respectively.

Daniel Ayala has already served a one match ban for accumulating six yellow cards, while Grant Leadbitter is one caution away from a suspension.

While Adomah was unlucky to be dismissed in the late stages of the stalemate at the Valley, Karanka revealed he has stressed the importance of avoiding needless absences to his squad.

Tomorrow’s game brings an end to a gruelling run of seven matches in 22 days for the Teessiders and the Boro head coach admits he can’t afford to be without players given the Championship’s punishing schedule.

“I told the players to try and avoid getting silly cards, because in this league every single detail is important,” Karanka said. “One mistake is important. One stupid yellow card might not important in that game, but if you have three or four, it will become important. I try to tell them everything.

“What happened with Deano (Whitehead) in the Brentford game was different to Adomah’s. His second yellow was a mistake by the referee.

“I’m not saying he made a mistake, because he said to me he had made a mistake and he apologised to us.

“Deano’s was different. It was a game we were winning 3-0 and we lost the player for three games. It was very difficult for me to keep the shape of the team without him. We have had a lot of high intensity games, but it’s in the past and Deano is back with us. That’s the most important thing.”

The Teessiders will look to put the disappointing performance against Blackpool behind them tomorrow, but they face a resurgent Fulham side that have won three on the bounce.

The Cottagers – relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season – failed to win their first eight games in the second tier under Felix Magath, but they have improved under caretaker manager Kit Symons.

“I have the same thoughts about Fulham now that I had at the start of the season,” Karanka said. “They will be in the highest positions. Now, they are playing how everyone expected them to.

“In the past they have had problems, but now they are playing like the squad they are. They have very good players. Most of them are Premier League players and it is going to be a difficult game, but sometimes when we play against those kinds of teams we play better.”

Karanka has a full squad to choose from minus Damia Abella and Jonathan Woodgate, with Adam Clayton and Jelle Vossen both available after illness and injury respectively.

Woodgate has only featured once this season – in the Capital One Cup first round win at Oldham – and the defender is still struggling with a thigh problem.

The 34-year-old didn’t feature at all during pre-season, but Karanka insists the former Real Madrid defender is still part of his plans.

The Boro boss said: “He’s now injured. It’s difficult for me because Woody is the kind of player I would like to have in training always, but it’s not possible because he is injured.

“I hope he can train with us as soon as possible.

“He still has a part to play this season. He is a very good player and when he’s fit he is an important player for us.”

Young forward Luke Williams is another player who has barely featured having made only four league appearances.

The 21-year-old has been missing because of a knee injury, but Karanka revealed he may look to loan Williams out if he cannot guarantee regular football.

“He was injured,” Karanka explained. “He has had a problem with his knee for two or three weeks. Now he is training with us again.

“I don’t know if he will go out on loan. I prefer to get Saturday’s game out of the way and then I will have time to think about him.”