ASHLEY FLETCHER has returned to training and has an outside chance of being involved in Middlesbrough’s home game with Stoke City tomorrow.

Fletcher suffered a muscular injury in last month’s home defeat to Bristol City, having earlier been forced to sit out four months of the season with a serious hamstring issue.

The striker trained yesterday, and is also due to take part in today’s training session, but Boro’s medical staff have been advising Neil Warnock to tread carefully with the 25-year-old, who is due to become a free agent this summer.

Warnock said: “Fletcher trained with us yesterday – he did all of the games and everything. I know what the medical people will say – they’re saying that if he plays and it goes, it’s my fault.

“So what do you do? At the moment, I’m tempted not to play him, but I’ll see Fletch later. He’s going to train with us, and when you see him train, you think he’s fit.”

Marcus Tavernier is also closing in on a return to fitness, but as is the case with Fletcher, Warnock is minded to give the midfielder another few days before restoring him to the first team.

The Boro boss said: “Tavernier’s not as bad as we thought. We have had a scan, and his ankle has ballooned and is black all the way round. It’s just completely black around the bone.

“He will get pain, but I think he should be okay. I might not risk him tomorrow, but I think he should be okay next week to be involved at some stage before the international break.”

Darnell Fisher is available tomorrow, and the January signing is set to replace Anfernee Dijksteel, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after damaging his ankle in last weekend’s controversial defeat at Swansea.

Warnock said: “It’s been an Achilles problem. I had a word with him yesterday and he says it’s a lot better now, he hardly feels it. So, I think Darnell will be involved this week, for sure.”