GEORGE FRIEND is a major injury doubt for Middlesbrough’s weekend game with Chelsea, with Aitor Karanka also facing a difficult decision over whether to start with Gaston Ramirez or Cristhian Stuani following their international exertions with Uruguay.

With Daniel Ayala already ruled out of Sunday’s game because of an ongoing ankle problem, Friend’s fitness became an issue when he twisted his knee in training on Thursday.

The full-back did not train on Friday, with Karanka set to monitor him closely over the next 24 hours before deciding on his team to take on Chelsea. If Friend misses out, the Boro head coach will either have to start with Fabio da Silva at left-back or switch Antonio Barragan from the right-hand side with Emilio Nsue slotting into his place.

Both Ramirez and Stuani trained earlier in the day, but Karanka admits they are not in peak condition following their lengthy return flight from Uruguay.

Karanka said: “We have a few doubts about the players who have come from Uruguay. Not in terms of their fitness because both of them have trained today, but they have had a long journey.

“We have Dani Ayala out, and we have a doubt with George Friend too because he had a knock on his knee yesterday. He twisted his knee, so we need to check how he is.”

Boro have drawn with Arsenal and Manchester City in their last three games, and Karanka is relishing the opportunity to pit his players against another of the Premier League’s big boys.

He said: “It is another nice challenge for us. After City, Arsenal and Bournemouth at home, to play against Chelsea in the way they are playing now is a really nice and tough challenge for us. But we have been working hard to play in these kind of games.

“We know they have scored 16 goals in their last five games and they didn’t concede one goal in those games, so once again it will be an amazing game to play.”