JONATHAN WOODGATE is in line to return from injury when Middlesbrough travel to face Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Woodgate has been missing since the Capital One Cup win over Oldham during the first week of the season because of a hamstring injury.

The defender missed most of Boro’s pre-season programme with back and groin problems, but he could hand head coach Aitor Karanka a boost ahead of Saturday’s trip to John Smith’s Stadium.

If fit, Woodgate could go straight into Karanka’s starting line-up alongside Kenneth Omeruo, but he faces competition from Daniel Ayala and Ben Gibson, who were both on the bench for the home defeat to Reading.

The head coach allowed Seb Hines to join Coventry City on loan in the last couple of hours of the transfer window, leaving the Spaniard with four central defenders.

Woodgate could be joined in the team by a few debutants following the captures of Jelle Vossen, Yanic Wildschut and Jamal Blackman on the last day of the transfer window.

The trio made it 12 summer signings for the Teessiders and Woodgate believes the club has recruited well.

“I think the club have done some great work during the summer,” the former Newcastle United and Real Madrid man said.

“We’ve had 12 in and 11 out and the chairman always backs every manager that’s been at the club.

“The players we’ve brought in are very good and we’re going to try our hardest to have a great season.

“I think if you’re at a football club you’ve got to believe that you’re going to go places. Every game you go into you’ve got the belief that you will win. The chairman has backed us and we have that confidence to win now.

“There’s 22 players here and that’s what the manager wants. Whoever gets the shirt on a Saturday will be fighting to keep it while the other will be battling to get it off them.

“The players we’ve signed are really good and they’re only going to improve the squad so we’ll see how we do this season.”

Meanwhile, Boro youngster Ryan Brobbel has extended his loan spell at Hartlepool United.

The 21-year-old joined the League Two side in August ad has played seven times under Colin Cooper.

Brobbel is now due to remain at Victoria Park until after their game at Exeter City on Saturday, October 11.