DAMIA ABELLA will have a scan later today to determine the extent of a knee injury which has left the Middlesbrough squad’s satisfaction with winning at Cardiff City tinged with disappointment.

The Spanish right-back had to be stretchered off in the 64th minute in South Wales last night as Boro effectively held on to the goal advantage given to them by Kike’s early right-foot volley.

Abella turned awkwardly near the touchline and was sprawled on the floor for a number of minutes before he was eventually carried down the tunnel and there are fears that it could be serious.

But Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka, who revealed that Tottenham right-back Ryan Fredericks is fit to play against Brentford this weekend after arriving on loan a fortnight ago, is keen to see what the results of a more thorough investigation reveal in the next 48 hours.

Karanka said: “I don’t think it is good news but we will wait and see what the scan says tomorrow (Wednesday). He is a very good player for us and we will miss him a lot. He has done his knee and it is not nice, hopefully he will be OK.”

Abella’s injury was the only frustration on a night when Middlesbrough left the Cardiff City Stadium with a third away win a row to lift them in to contention for a top six place ahead of Saturday’s visit of Brentford to the Riverside Stadium.

After Kike had volleyed in Albert Adomah’s cross with just 88 seconds on the clock, Boro defended strongly and moved forward with purpose to annoy the Bluebirds.

The only frustration from a Boro perspective was that they failed to increase their lead and capitalise on a number of chances, particularly in the first half. Karanka was impressed with how his team defended, though, and prevented Cardiff from levelling late on.

“It was very important because it was away from home again and we knew it would be hard against a very good team,” said Karanka. “We needed a win to keep building our confidence and we got that.

“We worked very well as a team. We told players the way we can play and how we can make defenders worry and we did that. We knew Cardiff have problems with sides switching play and we tried to do that in the first half. That’s how we scored the first goal we had plenty chances too.”

Despite winning back-to-back away dates after losing two home games in a row, the games keep coming thick and fast and Karanka knows his players have to maintain the same levels of concentration against Brentford.

And, after being asked about his decision to include Kenneth Omeruo ahead of Ben Gibson, the Middlesbrough boss singled out the Nigerian for praise after another impressive display at the heart of the defence.

He said: “We are feeling very good but we have two quick games now, so we just have to concentrate again and again. We had a lot to do here, but we were comfortable even when it is difficult against players like Kenwyne Jones and Federico Macheda up front here.

“It was difficult but we did well again. Kenneth is important to us. He is a very good signing for everybody and I keep telling him. He is more confident now and he gives confidence to the rest of the squad with his performances too. We don’t like to talk about individuals too much though. We have to keep performing as team.”