MIDDLESBROUGH have one eye on being able to call on Patrick Roberts and Dael Fry for this Saturday’s visit of Swansea City to the Riverside Stadium.

But while there has been positive noises coming from the training ground following the sidelined pair’s return to first team training in the last couple of days, the Championship club are having to take preventative steps aimed to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Head coach Jonathan Woodgate is doing what he can to keep his players focused on the task at hand, which is building on the victory at Charlton by ensuring Middlesbrough finish the campaign strongly and stay in the second tier.

But he is also now being guided by club chiefs following the advice of Public Health England and the English Football League as the country, and the world, tries to deal with the crisis.

Middlesbrough had two Foundation Day of Action events planned for Tuesday afternoon that were due to have Ashley Fletcher and Adam Clayton attend. Neither player did because of restrictions placed on interaction between members of the playing staff and the public.

Woodgate’s pre-match press conference has also been switched to the Riverside for Wednesday afternoon rather than at the club’s training base where it would normally take place, for the same reason.

The move comes on the same day Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis revealed he has the coronavirus. He was not at the Riverside when the two teams met at the Riverside on March 2, when the two teams drew 2-2.

Forest are discussing what steps now need to be taken by the EFL and the Greek businessman was at the City Ground last Friday for the game against Millwall. The 52-year-old shook hands with the players and met fans.

While Middlesbrough are doing what it can to help the spread of the virus, Woodgate and his players are pushing ahead with preparations for the visit of Swansea.

The sight of Roberts and Fry working with the first team in the first two days of training this week has been a boost and there is a chance they could be involved this weekend if there are no set-backs.

Manchester City loan man Roberts suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham City in January and has not played since. His recovery has gone quicker than expected and the hope is he will return to action to boost the fight for survival.

Fry has also been sidelined for about a month with a thigh injury, although the arrival of Harold Moukoudi and the return to fitness of Ryan Shotton has ensured he has the time to make sure his problem has cleared.

Middlesbrough’s midfield duo Paddy McNair and George Saville, meanwhile, have been included in Northern Ireland's squad for their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Bosnia.

McNair and Saville are part of Michael O’Neill’s 26-man squad to face Bosnia on Thursday, March 26. The winners will meet either Slovakia or the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, March 31 in the final for a place at this summer's showpiece.