MIDDLESBROUGH’S injured players are making progress in their recovery but it remains unclear whether they will be back in time for Chris Wilder’s first game in charge against Millwall tomorrow.

Boro have had to cope without a number of defenders for a number of weeks with Anfernee Dijksteel, Dael Fry, Marc Bola and Grant Hall all struggling with their own respective injuries. Hall made his return to the first team before the international break starting in their goalless draw with West Brom.

Meanwhile, Uche Ikpeazu has been attempting to recover from a leg injury.

Wilder has had nearly two weeks with his new players but some of them have been on the treatment table or on international duty which the boss admits has been difficult to cope with. Tomorrow’s game ushers in a new era at the Riverside Stadium as the new manager takes his first steps into the Boro dugout.

But with a stern test in mind, Wilder, understandably, wanted to play his cards close to his chest.

When quizzed about the shape of the squad, the 54-year-old said: “I don't like to show my hand too much, because nobody shows me their hand.

“There are a few injuries and it’s just important we get everybody back healthy.

“Sammy Ameobi and Darnell Fisher are long term, and Marcus Browne is looking to get back on the grass now. Dael Fry is making big strides to get himself back available.

“I think one of the things we have to look at as well is that there is still 30 games to go, so there will be no gambles in terms of chucking players in.

“They have to come through a process now which makes sure that they don’t re-injure themselves. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s certainly something we need to look at.

“I think it’s just basic common sense that we need everybody healthy, we need every player knocking on the door.

“I want to have the hardest job in this area. I’ve got the best one, but I want to have the hardest in terms of picking that team.

“And I want people knocking on my door saying, ‘why am I not playing?’ And then I can talk to them.

“But the team will be picked to get a result. There may be changes from a tactical and personnel point of view, and they’ve got to understand that and accept that, but the group will only be good if it’s healthy and it’s up to numbers.

“But at the moment, as you’ll possibly have seen and might see on Saturday, it’s not at that position that I would like it to be.”

The Northern Echo: Chris Wilder takes his first training session at Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Wilder’s short time in charge of the Boro squad has been a fine balancing act. He says that a mixture of injuries to the squad, players being away on international duty and a three game week to come means they have to look after the players and the players will have to look after themselves.

Alongside that, there is progress with some players returning to the field of play this week.

Wilder added: “The international boys have been away. We’ve had Uche back on the grass this week, we’ve had Marc Bola back on the grass this week so they missed last week’s work.

“At one stage last week, we had ten players and four kids in there. Kolo (Williams Kokolo, T (Toyosi Olusanya), Josh Coburn and (Jeremy Sivi) so it wasn’t a senior group.

“We have to look at everything. I think the difficult part is maybe where it’s at the moment is where I want it to be on a Monday to Friday because I really do take a big outlook and attitude towards what happens on a Monday to Friday to condition yourself. Not just for Saturday but for what’s coming forward.

“It’s going to be an even more difficult situation next week with a three game week so the intensity of training will possibly drop down so it’s trying to get that balance because I don’t want to absolutely flog the boys all over the place in the week and they’ve got no energy for the main event.

“Getting that balance right is key.”