MIDDLESBROUGH are confident they can persuade the Football Association to overturn Adama Traore’s dismissal against Sunderland in time for the winger to be involved in Friday’s home game with Leeds United.

Boro informed the FA of their intention to appeal against Traore’s red card at the Stadium of Light yesterday, and have until 1pm this afternoon to submit their appeal documents.

An independent disciplinary panel will then convene to discuss referee Tim Robinson’s decision to dismiss Traore, and decide whether the winger’s four-match ban should be upheld. Having already been sent off once this season against Aston Villa, Traore is set to receive an extra game as part of his punishment if Robinson’s decision to brandish a straight red card is supported.

To further complicate matters, the FA could also decide to discuss Traore’s actions when he left the field, when he remonstrated with the fourth official and had to be restrained by his team-mate, Adam Clayton. Robinson has included details of Traore’s reaction to the red card in the report he submitted in the wake of Saturday’s game.

Middlesbrough’s defence will argue that Traore’s actions with Oviedo did not merit a straight red card, and claim the winger was provoked before he tangled with Sunderland’s Costa Rican full-back in the penalty area.

Boro boss Tony Pulis is fully supportive of the decision to mount an appeal, having criticised the red card in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s game.

“I was really disappointed with Adama until I saw it again,” said Pulis. “He says Oviedo comes round and pokes him in the eye. Adama reacts to that, pushes him in the chest and the kid falls over, so we’ll see what the FA have to say about that.

“Let’s hope and pray people see what Oviedo did. He’s not pushed him for no reason – you’ll see why he’s reacted.”

Boro officials have already mounted a successful appeal against a red card this season, with an FA disciplinary commission having overturned the dismissal of Rudy Gestede at Norwich City.

With Gestede now unavailable for the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle in the 3-1 win over Hull City, Boro can ill afford to be without Traore for the next four games.

After hosting Leeds on Friday, Boro take on Birmingham City, Barnsley and Brentford before the next international break, and the absence of their most in-form player would be a major blow.

Jack Harrison has built up his match sharpness since joining on loan on transfer-deadline day, but the former MLS midfielder is hardly a like-for-like replacement for Traore.

Boro rose to seventh position in the table when they claimed a point at the weekend, but will slip back to eighth this evening if Sheffield United claim anything from their game at Reading.