PADDY McNAIR and Marc Bola remain major injury doubts ahead of Middlesbrough’s game with Blackpool – but James Lea-Siliki is available after his problem in the closing stages of Wednesday’s win at Nottingham Forest proved to be nothing more serious than a bout of cramp.

McNair and Bola both missed the midweek trip to the City Ground, and while they both took part in some light training yesterday, tomorrow’s game with Seasiders is likely to come too soon for them.

“I don’t think (they’ll make it),” admitted Boro boss Neil Warnock. “They both did some light training, and I haven’t seen the physios yet. I’ll be having a meeting with the physios and the doctor, and I’ll know more then.”

The news regarding Lea-Siliki is more positive, with the summer signing from Rennes in the squad for tomorrow’s game despite being unable to complete Wednesday’s win.

It was initially feared that the Cameroon international has suffered a thigh injury in the closing stages of the game, but to Warnock’s relief, his problem turned out to be cramp.

“Can you believe it, he’s 25, and he got cramp,” said the Boro boss. “I went in yesterday, in front of all the lads, and said, ‘Cramp? At your age? What have you been doing? It’s unbelievable, but it’s good news.”

Martin Payero has missed Boro’s last two games after turning his ankle in training at the end of last week, but the Argentinian should also be available to face a Blackpool side that knocked Boro out of the Carabao Cup last month.

“Blacky (Kevin Blackwell) said he (Payero) trained really well (on Thursday),” said Warnock. “It wasn’t much. His ankle wasn’t a problem on the scan, but as he went over, he did something on the side of his knee. It was that that was sore.”

Middlesbrough (probable, 4-2-3-1): Lumley; Dijksteel, Hall, Fry, Peltier; Howson, Lea-Siliki; Tavernier, Crooks, Hernandez; Sporar.