Aitor Karanka has confirmed that Tomas Kalas will leave Boro following the away fixture at Norwich City.
Under the terms of his loan deal, the Czech defender will return to his parent club Chelsea in the week beginning Monday, April 19.
That means the 21-year-old will only miss two Championship fixtures - the trip to Fulham and the final game of the season at home to Brighton.
Karanka said: “He finishes on the 22nd after the Norwich game, he can play that game.”
The Boro boss, meanwhile, has almost a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of the Easter programme, starting with Friday’s home clash with Wigan.
Dani Ayala is still battling to overcome a thigh strain but with the arrival of Dwight Tiendalli and Fernando Amorebieta has given Karanka options at the back.
That said, Amorebieta may have to wait until Monday’s six-pointer at Watford to make his debut because he only returned from international duty with Venezuela today.
Action Images / Adam Holt
Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka
Karanka admitted in his pre-match press conference that he will assess the Fulham centre-back prior to the game.
“I don’t know if he is fit,” he admitted. “He is travelling and I have to speak with him.
“If he is fit and well I will have to think as there are other players who can play.”
Karanka revealed that Ryan Fredericks is back at Boro following his spell back at Tottenham spent recuperating from a hamstring injury.
“Ryan was at Tottenham for treatment but he is with us and training with the team,” said the head coach, who explained why Patrick Bamford was withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad last week.
“Patrick had a problem with one of his feet, but now he is better. We had a lot of games in February but the doctors here and the FA agreed it was the best way for him to recover. He was recovering last week but he has trained with us this week.”
Patrick Bamford
Karanka said Ayala wouldn’t feature over Easter but Kenneth Omeruo might, despite suffering a suspected groin injury while playing for Nigeria at the weekend.
“Kenneth was injured but he trained with us today so he could be ready for us,” he said. “We have Daniel Ayala, he could be one more week.”
Meanwhile, the future of Jelle Vossen won’t be decided until the season’s over confirmed the Boro head coach.
“We are focused on the game,” he said. “We have to decide at the end of the season.
“I think we had a date in the contract to decide but we don’t know if we will be in the Premier League, the play-offs or in seventh, so the club is doing nothing.
“We will start to work when the season is finished and we know where we will be. The contract has an option for us to keep him.”
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