ANDRAZ SPORAR is a major doubt for Middlesbrough’s home game with Preston tomorrow – but the Teessiders are set to receive a double boost ahead of their weekend trip to Huddersfield Town with Dael Fry and Martin Payero both due to return to training.

Sporar was substituted at the half-time interval of Boro’s weekend draw with Millwall after injuring his ankle.

The Slovenian has been unable to train since suffering the problem, and while he has not been completely ruled out of tomorrow’s game with Preston, Boro boss Chris Wilder concedes he is an unlikely participant.

Wilder said: “He (Sporar) had his ankle in an ice bucket at the weekend, so there’s obviously an issue there. He’s doing his best to make himself available though. There’s another couple with bumps and bruises, but that’s what you’d expect after a competitive game.

“If I was a player, I’d want to play. I’d want to play, and I hope that’s the feeling of the players, that they want to play in this team. That’s what I need. I want to have the most difficult job. I want to have 21 or 22 where I’m going, ‘Right, here we go’.”

Neither Fry nor Payero will feature tomorrow, but the duo should both be back on the training field before the weekend.

Payero missed the Millwall game because of an ankle problem, while Fry has been sidelined since the defeat to Hull at the start of October.

Wilder said: “We’ve got a couple pretty close to coming back. Dael Fry is not a million miles away, we’re possibly looking at the back end of the week for him to join in, which is big for us.

“He’s obviously a big player. Payero is pretty much the same. He’ll miss out against Preston, but isn’t far away.”