AITOR KARANKA will be without the injured Dani Ayala for the trip to Arsenal on Sunday, with the Middlesbrough defender expected to be out for up to four weeks.
Karanka confirmed his compatriot’s absence at Thursday’s press conference ahead of the FA Cup fifth round encounter at the Emirates, after Ayala limped off during Boro’s 2-1 win at Blackpool on Tuesday.
Chelsea loanee Tomas Kalas will also miss out as Boro are arranging his loan deal to run until the end of the season, while Adam Forshaw, signed last month from Wigan Athletic, is cup-tied.
But there is better news for George Friend, who sat out Tuesday’s win at Bloomfield Road with a virus.
“George has trained today, he had a virus,” said Karanka “I think he’s going to be ready for Sunday. I don’t know for certain. I hope he can be with us.”
“Tomas can’t play, but we want to keep him until the end of the season. I don’t know the specifics but he will be with us until the end of the season.”
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