Middlesbrough have been handed a boost ahead of their midweek meeting with Sheffield United.
Championship football returned following the October international break on Friday evening.
Sheffield United, who were previously undefeated this season, faced off with Leeds United.
As for Michael Carrick’s side, they are not in league action until 3pm BST on October 19th when they host Bristol City at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough are predicted to beat Bristol City, who did the double over the Teessiders in the 2023/24 campaign.
Boro go into the game ninth in the Championship table and looking to to get back to winning ways after losing 2-1 to Watford in their last fixture prior to the break.
Ahead of the game, Carrick provided an injury update on Tommy Conway, with the striker potentially set to feature for the first time since he was sidelined.
Dael Fry and Jonny Howson have also returned to training but their involvement on Saturday remains somewhat unlikely.
The pair could potentially be fit enough to feature in Middlesbrough’s following game after Bristol, however.
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Key Sheffield United star to miss Middlesbrough meeting
Former Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder is back at Sheffield United and has enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign.
Despite the Blades’ points deduction ahead of 2024/25 getting underway, they were undefeated in their first nine outings ahead of taking on Leeds on Friday night.
However, Daniel Farke’s side picked up a 2-0 win over the Blades to end that superb run of form.
As well as losing their first league game of the season, Sheffield United have been dealt a fresh blow ahead of the Middlesbrough meeting on Wednesday.
Vini Souza picked up a yellow card during the tie, with the referee indicating it was for waving an imaginary yellow card for a Leeds player.
The midfielder, who has started all of the Yorkshire outfit’s Championship matches this term and even captained them on three occasions, will now miss out against Middlesbrough.
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Why Sheffield United meeting is key for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough are currently focused on seeing off Bristol City on Saturday and should be favourites for the game despite the Robins previously losing just one of the last seven meetings between the two sides.
After Saturday, Carrick’s attention will turn toward the Blades, who despite their points deduction, are still joint-top of the Championship ahead of the weekend’s games getting underway.
The Souza suspension is a boost for Middlesbrough but Sheffield United will still likely prove arguably Boro’s toughest test of the season so far.
But if the North East outfit want to make a proper promotion push this season it is exactly the type of game they need to get something out of.
Boro struggled against the top teams last season but that must change if they are to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.