AITOR KARANKA has revealed Middlesbrough have full-back problems ahead of an important relegation duel with Crystal Palace.

Boro are three points ahead of second from bottom Palace before the two go into battle at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

But Middlesbrough’s preparations have been hit by further problems on the injury front ahead of the trip to London.

George Friend (calf) and Calum Chambers (stress fracture) have not trained all week, while Antonio Barragan will definitely miss out.

That only leaves Fabio da Silva as a recognised full-back, so Ben Gibson would have to be considered for a wider role.

Karanka said: “We are not 100 per cent with George, Barragan, Calum, and I think the rest are all fit. These three are our concerns.

"All of them are full-backs. We are working well. When something like thinks happens it is not just one, I am calm because we have alternatives. Barragan is out. We need to check on Calum and George because they have not trained this week.”

Palace were thumped a few weeks ago on home turf by Sunderland and Middlesbrough will be looking to inflict similar damage to boost the fight to stay up.

Karanka said: “It’s a big game. One thing clear is we mustn’t treat this as a final. We have more games. We are competing well in the last games, the last game against Everton in the league was good. That is the main thing.

“We have played with teams that are top ten in the table. Playing against those we still had chances to win the games. We could have equalised against Tottenham. We now have chances to play against teams in our position, so I am confident.

“The aim was always to finish the season and play next season in Premier League, the aim is the same … we are in a good position, we are in the quarter-finals in the FA Cup and if someone said three years ago we would be in this position then I don’t think people would be unhappy.”