MIDDLESBROUGH’S problems with options in attack continue to mount up as an injury to Josh Coburn will see him out for an extended period.

The 19-year-old picked up a knee problem in the second half of last week’s 1-1 draw with West Brom. Coburn was not in the matchday squad for this weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Queens Park Rangers with 17-year-old Sonny Finch taking his place on the bench.

Manager Chris Wilder was set to sanction a loan move for the teenager to further his development but he looks set to stay on Teesside as he begins his recovery.

Wilder told BBC Radio Tees Sport: “Josh is out for six to eight weeks so that is really disappointing for him.

“He jarred his knee in the second half of the game against West Brom. We’ve known that all week so it’s disappointing for the young guy but hopefully he doesn’t waste the time that he has got now and make sure he uses that time to be bigger and stronger and mor powerful for when he comes back.

“It’s part and parcel. I think we have been good in terms of injuries. Paddy (McNair) was out because of the one game ban from Preston. So it’s just the one person but there are teams that are in far worse positions than we are.”

The injury blow leaves Boro with Marcus Forss, Chuba Akpom and Duncan Watmore as their attacking options while Matthew Hoppe set to arrive from Mallorca.

However, all three of his forwards are currently feeling their uown fitness issues with the manager currently performing a balancing act. Wilder continued: “You move the pattern of the game really because you’ve got to. I can’t risk Marcs (Forss) because there is possibly and injury in there straight away, an overuse one. There is no use me saying ‘keep yourself out there’. Then ‘dear me, he’s done his hamstring or his calf or he’s pulled his thigh.

“We are making medical decisions as well as trying to make footballing decisions.”