ANOTHER one down, but the games just keep on coming. By the time Middlesbrough have hosted Blackpool and Fulham this week, they will have played seven games in 22 days. Little wonder that Aitor Karanka is reluctant to keep naming the same players for every fixture.

There were three changes for Saturday’s goalless draw at Charlton, and more will be required for tomorrow’s game with Blackpool given that Albert Adomah is suspended and Kenneth Omeruo is a major injury worry after hobbling off during the second half at The Valley.

Boro’s squad is being tested to the limit, but unlike in previous seasons, where there would not have been the depth to cope, Aitor Karanka currently has sufficient options to retain a freshness and vigour that might not be apparent in some of his side’s opponents.

Emmanuel Ledesma was back on the bench at Charlton and is pushing for a first-team return, while Jelle Vossen could also be available tomorrow after missing the weekend game with a minor knock.

“It’s been very busy, but it’s what you expect in this league,” said goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos. “We’ve known the schedule from the beginning. We’ve prepared for that, but when you’ve played as many games as we have recently, there are bound to be a few tired legs.

“We’ve got a good squad though, and have good rotation. We take it game by game, and whichever lads come into the team, they have been doing as well as the lads from the previous game. If we carry on like that, we’ll be in a very good position.”

Konstantopoulos should certainly head into tomorrow’s game in a positive mood after his fine stoppage-time save from Lawrie Wilson helped secure a point on Saturday.

The Greek shot-stopper had barely been tested before that, but when he was required to spring into action late on, he responded superbly.

“Those are the trickiest games for a goalkeeper because you’re not in the game so much and you have to keep focused right the way to the end,” he said. “There are lots of good players in this league, and if you take your eye off the ball for just one second, you can get hurt. I tried to stay focused. I thought the boys played well, and I just tried to help them where I could.”

The save underlined why Karanka has demoted Tomas Mejias from the starting line-up, and retained Konstantopoulos as his number one despite the presence of Jamal Blackman, who would have expected to be starting following his loan move from Stamford Bridge.

“It’s massive to have the backing of the manager,” said Konstantopoulos. “That’s not just true of me, it’s the same for every player. Every time I play, and every day in training, I am trying to prove him right.”