MARCUS TAVERNIER is facing a lengthy injury-lay-off after suffering a knee injury in the closing stages of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

Tavernier damaged his knee as he slipped on the Riverside turf, and was forced to hobble off in obvious discomfort.

He is now facing a number of weeks on the sidelines, with his absence a major blow given his fine form this season and Middlesbrough’s limited alternative options in the attacking positions.

Boro boss Neil Warnock said: “It’s another slip on the grass. The pitch is not very good at all – and it won’t be for the rest of the season.

“Everybody’s slipping on it all the time, and it was another slip. It’s the inside of his knee. I think he had a scan last night, and they’ll tell me today probably what the verdict is.

“But I don’t expect we’ll see him for a few weeks.”

The news regarding Dael Fry is more positive, with the defender having suffered no long-lasting damage from the kick in the face he received from Blackburn centre-half Jarrad Branthwaite in the early stages of Sunday’s game.

Fry is making a good recovery, although tomorrow night’s home game with Rotherham United could come too soon for him to be involved.

Warnock said: “He’s got the stitches in, but he feels a lot better in himself.

“The swelling is going down, although whether it will go down enough (for him to play tomorrow), I don’t know.

“It’s definitely going down, but we won’t risk him if there’s a doubt.

“It wasn’t nice – but he’s a bit, strong lad. I don’t know what else I can say about it, to be honest.”