MIDDLESBROUGH are hopeful that defender Paddy McNair will be available for his first available league game of the season after missing their 3-0 friendly win over Morecambe due to an ankle injury.

The Northern Irishman did not travel with the squad to the Mazuma Stadium after he picked up the problem at the club’s Rockliffe training ground.

McNair is suspended for Boro's league opener against West Brom due to a red card he received in the final game against Preston but Boro will monitor his progres over the next few weeks

“He just turned his ankle over in training and it just shows how quickly you can lose a player” said Wilder after the win in Lancashire.

“You’ve lost a player just like that from an innocuous coming together in training. These things happen from time to time and you can’t do much about it. It’s not an overuse and underuse injury, it’s a compact one, turning his ankle in training, going for a tackle with one of the boys and falling awkwardly. These things can happen.

“We’re hopeful it won’t be too long, obviously he misses the first game of the season anyway (through suspension), so we’ll see how he goes with that one and hopefully get him back as soon as possible because he is a big player for us.”

Meanwhile, Marc Bola is continuing to work his way back to full fitness having missed their pre-season tour of Portugal.

Wilder continued: "He’s okay. He had a tight groin so no good taking him just to give him treatment so he’ll be part of the group on Friday.

"There are a couple of games. There’s a game on Friday (vs Marseille) and one on Saturday at Darlington so the boys that don’t get minutes on Friday will be involved on Saturday at Darlington."

Anfernee Djiksteel took his place as part of a three man defence alongside Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry.

McNair will not be available for Friday’s game against Marseille which is Boro’s final pre-season friendly before the season.