EMMANUEL LATTE LATH is set to return to the Middlesbrough squad for Saturday’s home game with Plymouth Argyle, but Jonny Howson and Hayden Hackney remain major long-term injury concerns.

Latte Lath has been sidelined since suffering a foot injury in the early stages of last month’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win over Chelsea.

The summer signing from Atalanta has suffered an injury-hit first season in English football as he also missed a big chunk of the autumn with a muscular issue.

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He has returned to training this week, though, and while there is a good chance he will be eased back in from the substitutes’ bench at the weekend, his availability nevertheless represents a major boost given the ongoing absence of his fellow forward, Josh Coburn.

“Josh is not available for the weekend, but Manu has trained this week,” said Boro head coach Michael Carrick. “He’s only trained for a short time, but he has trained, so he’s got back in and around the group. That’s a big plus to have him back.

“Izzy’s (Jones) a little bit further down the line. We’re probably still looking at another week or two for Izzy, so Manu is the one (who could feature at the weekend).”

The news is not so positive when it comes to Howson and Hackney, both of whom suffered knee injuries as the result of tackles in the recent defeat at Preston.

The pair are still being assessed, with Boro’s backroom staff seeking further medical opinion as they weigh up how best the treat the problems.

They have not trained at all this week, though, and there is clearly a significant amount of concern over the potential length of their respective injury lay-offs.

“We’re still investigating and scanning with Jonny and Hayden,” said Carrick. “We’re seeing experts, consultants, on that a little bit.

“Neither of them have trained this week though, so they’ll be out for a period of time. We’re just not sure how long yet. That’s as far as we’ve really got at the moment.”