MIDDLESBROUGH are hopeful that all of Sunday has given Matt Crooks ample time to recover from a knee injury that forced him off in the goalless draw with Stoke City at the weekend.

Crooks was forced off during the latter stages of the game at the Bet 365 Stadium after suffering a knee problem. Chris Wilder was forced to withdraw the midfielder from the game as a precautionary measure as Boro’s management staff remain hopeful there will be no lasting effects. He is one of Boro’s most prominent figures in the side and is this season’s top scorer with four goals.

Speaking to the Northern Echo after the game, Wilder said his side are continuing to bare the brunt of consistent injury problems that have plagued them all season and admitted Crooks may not be the only casualty.

“He’s (Crooks) just had a little bit of an issue with his knee” said the 54-year-old.

“Obviously Jonah (Isaiah Jones) went down at the same time. Duncan (Watmore) had a little bit of issue as well. Sol has not felt well when he climbed on the bus yesterday.

“Yet again down to bare bones as well which is not where I want us to be. You look at their group and the players that they can call upon. We’re a little bit off at the moment but all we can ask is people put there hands up and make themselves available and Sol did.

“We just to wait and see. Hopefully Matty, Duncan and Jonah have a good weekend and are okay going into next week.”