MIDDLESBROUGH defender Lee Peltier has been ruled out for 3-4 weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 34-year-old picked up the injury in the midweek defeat to Preston North End has Boro conceded the second goal at the Riverside Stadium and was absent for today’s 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town.

The former Cardiff and West Brom man started in Wilder’s first two games in charge of the club and has made 13 appearances in total this season. The news will come as a blow with a number of defenders already sidelined through injury.

However, Anfernee Dijksteel returned to the side taking Peltier’s position in a back three and manager Chris Wilder was happy with the way he coped with the pace of the game considering it was his first game back.

Wilder said: “Yeah it was but I thought Dijskteel came in, and he’s not trained much really, he’s been injured as well so he’s not had a lot of structure and shape being involved with that but I thought he was excellent.

“To come in and play at a Championship tempo when you have been out for a while is difficult but he handled it well.

Speaking about the performance of Dijksteel’s defensive compatriot, Wilder added: “Paddy (McNair) does what Paddy does. Can’t play left centre-half Paddy, ‘yeah alright boss, I’ll get on with it’ and he has done and I thought he was excellent.

“I thought the whole structure of the team was good. Out of possession we were solid and had a decent shape when pressed at the right time and in possession, especially first half, moved the ball around the pitch and dominated and dictated the flow and tempo.”

The hamstring problem means Peltier is almost certain to miss the next three games against Swansea City, Stoke City and Bournemouth. He could be back in time for the Boxing Day clash at home to Nottingham Forest.