Matchfile: Boro v Wigan - all you need to know ahead of this afternoon's match

The Championship's promotion race takes centre stage again today with all eight hopefuls enjoying some time to draw breath over the international weekend.

But with seven matches to go and an Easter double header waiting in the wings, the coming days could prove pivotal in the most exciting tussle in years.

Boro go into this afternoon's game in third place, one point below Bournemouth and level on points with Watford.

Next up for Aitor Karanka's men is a clash with Wigan Athletic at the Riverside, with the Latics five points from safety but having enjoyed a mini-revival on the road, winning their last four.

Here's all you need to know in our in-depth matchfile.

Injury news

Boro have been handed a major fitness boost with Jonathan Woodgate (toe), Ryan Fredericks (hamstring), Kenneth Omeruo (groin) and Patrick Bamford (toe) all fit to face Wigan.

But the game comes too soon for defender Daniel Ayala (groin), who remains sidelined following his setback against Ipswich.

Daniel Ayala heads Boro's opening goal against Ipswich

Damia Abella (cruciate) and Rhys Williams (Achilles) remain on the Teessiders’ treatment table.

Wigan are without Don Cowie (knee), as well as long-term trio Emyr Huws, Grant Holt and Juan Carlos Garcia.

But James McLean (ankle) is fit for the relegation-threatened Latics.

The thoughts of the boss

“One of the biggest surprises for me is that Wigan are not high in the table.

“Wigan away was one of Malky Mackay’s first games in charge and from that day I thought they would improve. They are a dangerous team though because they play better away from home. Away they don’t have the pressure.

Aitor Karanka

“It’s better for us to play under this kind of pressure than to play under the pressure last season when we went to Millwall and we were just two points above the relegation places. At that time I felt under pressure, I had only been here a month and a half. Now I think it is good to be playing for promotion.

“We have showed everybody that we can play under pressure because we played against Ipswich and Derby and beat them. For this reason I am confident with the players and we are ready to play the game.”

Opposition's view

Malky Mackay believes his Wigan players must respect Boro’s achievements to date.

“This weekend we’re playing against two of the best teams in the league (Middlesbrough and Derby County),” Mackay told the club’s website.

© CameraSport

Wigan boss Malky Mackay and Middlesbrough's Manager Aitor Karanka

“Middlesbrough have done well this season, they’ve got quality throughout their team and in particular Lee Tomlin and Patrick Bamford have been on people’s lips for a while.

“We’ve got to make sure that we go there and give a good account of ourselves, hold no fear, but at the same time give them respect for what they’ve achieved this season.”

Their man in the know - Greg Farrimond, Wigan Observer

Wigan have a chance at Boro but they must get the first goal. If they do get ahead they can be very stubborn in defence and will dig in and fight like crazy to hang on as they did when they won at Norwich - but if they concede the first then there is usually no way back.

“Athletic have given themselves a slim chance of survival with the last four wins on the road but they have been woeful at home - they haven’t won since August - and the team lack confidence and quality. They are fragile.

“I think fans are quite pessimistic about survival but you never know in this league.”

Who's the dangerman?

Former Sunderland winger James McClean returns to the Wigan fold today and boss Malky Mackay has tipped him to lead the Latics to safety.

McClean has been in the headlines in recent weeks, publicly stating he was “hung out to dry” by the Black Cats over his refusal to wear a poppy on his shirt.

Wigan Athletic's James McClean

The 25-year-old has missed Wigan’s last two matches through injury and suspension, but he’s now back firing and is capable of producing match-winning moments.

He is the team’s top scorer with a modest six goals, but another at the Riverside today could prove crucial in the Latics’ survival bid.

What's the form?

Boro's much hyped “Week of Destiny” ended on a bum note with a bubble-bursting defeat at title rivals Bournemouth - but six points from three big games was still a respectable return.

An emphatic 4-1 home win over Ipswich then a draining 1-0 win at Derby left Boro joint top having dented the hopes of two of their fellow pretenders.

The set-back on the South Coast left them a point off the top and it looked like it was a game too far but Boro have had two weeks to regroup, recharge batteries and get refocused on the prize.

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Now they go into a seven-game sprint looking to make their impressive home form count.

Since Boxing Day Boro have won eight out of nine home games, losing only to Leeds in a game they bossed.

In that run they have kept five clean sheets, leaked just four times in all and scored a healthy 20 goals.

A distinct home and away pattern has emerged in Wigan’s form over the last six weeks that may give Boro some cause for concern.

On home turf third bottom Wigan have been poor and have taken just one point from six games, that coming in a 1-1 draw with rivals Bolton last time out.

But on the road they have won their last four to give themselves a glimmer of hope that they may yet escape the basement battle.

They started with a gritty 1-0 win at Reading, eased to a 3-1 victory over Blackpool, stunned Norwich with a coupon-busting 1-0 triumph at Carrow Road and then closed the gap on fourth bottom Rotherham with a crucial 3-1 there.

BORO’S LAST FIVE

Mar 21 (a) BOURNEMOUTH L 0-3

Mar 17 (a) DERBY W 1-0

Mar 14 (h) IPSWICH W 4-1

Mar 7 (a) N FOREST L 1-2

Mar 3 (h) MILLWALL W 3-0

Last five homes: W 4-1, W 3-0, W 1-0, L 0-1, W 3-1

WIGAN’S LAST FIVE

Mar 21 (h) BOLTON D 1-1

Mar 17 (h) WATFORD L 0-2

Mar 14 (a) ROTHERHAM W 2-1

Mar 7 (h) LEEDS L 0-1

Mar 4 (a) NORWICH W 1-0

Last five aways: W 2-1, W 1-0, W 3-1, W 1-0, L 0-3

Lee Cattermole

Players who have worn both shirts

The following have played for both Boro and Wigan: Sammy Armes, Peter Beagrie, Ronald Blake, Thomas Butler, Lee Cattermole, Alex Ferguson (no not that one!), Adam Forshaw, Jack Jennings, George Jones, Graham Kavanagh, Mick Kennedy, Marlon King, Mido, Michael O’Neill, William Oxley, Carlo Nash, David Shearer, Arthur Stevenson, Gary Walsh. Coaching connections: Herbert Bamlett, Allenby Chilton, Bruce Rioch, Uwe Rosler (Boro triallist), Bob Ward.

#OnThisBoroDay 2000: Hamilton Ricard steals the show at White Hart Lane for the second year running

When Hamilton Ricard rocked up at White Hart Lane, Tottenham knew they were in trouble.

Just a year earlier, Spurs had fallen victim to the big Colombian at his best – a rip-roaring performance from the powerful frontman as he scored two of the goals in a 3-0 drubbing.

Twelve months down the line and he was at it again, scoring twice as Boro hit three, yet again, and extended their unbeaten run to seven games on this day in 2000.

Boro and Ricard himself were developing quite the soft spot for White Hart Lane.

Still in the bottom half, but now just three points behind seventh-placed Aston Villa, there was every chance Boro were going to improve on their best ever Premier League finish of ninth. Especially on this form.

The scoreline flattered the hosts. From the minute Stephen Carr put the ball in his own net, with half-time fast approaching, cancelling out Chris Armstrong’s opener, there was only ever going to be one winner.

And then Hamilton Ricard stepped forward to steal the show yet again.

“I’m pleased for the lad, because things haven’t always gone well for him this season,” said Robson after the game, calling on Ricard to add more consistency to his game.

“He took his goals really well and was a real handful. Hopefully he can keep it going until the end of the season.”

Like Ricard, Boro were hoping to continue their fine form from now until the end of the season.

With seven games to go, the only disappointment was the fact the season was coming to an end with Boro seemingly hitting top form.

“The self-belief which has been generated by the unbeaten spell was evident from the kick-off, and Boro basically refused to leave the pitch with anything less than three points,” reported Eric Paylor in his match report.

“It makes you wonder what might have happened if Boro had been playing like this in the dark months.”

Amazing aerial shot shows Boulby mine train sailing past the cliff-edge near Saltburn

This never-before-seen aerial picture shows the Boulby mine freight train sailing past the cliff-edge near Saltburn.

The 900,000 tonne trains take potash and salt from ICL Fertilizers, formerly Cleveland Potash, to the company’s facility at Tees Dock - and can run up to six times a day.

The train is pictured here travelling between Carlin How and Brotton.

The company is one of Teesside’s largest employers, and most of its 1,100 workers live within a 12-mile radius of the mine. It employs around 250 contractors, a further 3,000 in the direct supply chain - and yet another 1,500 jobs are also supported by the mine and its activities.

ICL Fertilizers currently produces more than one million tonnes of potash for fertilisers and around 650,000 tonnes of salt each year from its Cleveland Potash mine at Boulby, and most of what it produces is moved by train.

Now the company announced multi-million plans to expand its production in the emerging polyhalite market to help farmers improve crop yields.

ICL is investing £38m in improvements to its mining infrastructure, including advanced mining and crushing facilities, which will give it the tools to make polyhalite in large volumes.

The company’s current production of around 100,000 tonnes of polyhalite a year is expected to increase to 600,000 tonnes by 2018.

Recap: Preview to Wigan, Tomas Kalas loan update, Boro receive fitness boost

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Our sports team are with you for live weekday coverage including photos, nostalgia, interviews, surveys and the best of Boro social media.

Give us your thoughts by tweeting via our #BoroLive hashtag, at @GazetteBoro or find us on Facebook.

Race for the Premier League: Promotion hopefuls ready for crunch Easter double header

The Championship promotion race takes centre stage again tomorrow afternoon as eight clubs look to take one step closer to the Premier League.

The international break may have come at an irritating time for fans, but it has allowed clubs the chance to take stock ahead of the final push.

Only five matches will remain after this weekend’s double header, and there will surely be plenty more twists and turns to come in the next few weeks.

But what are each of the promotion contenders saying about the final seven games?

1st Bournemouth (79 points). Easter fixtures - Ipswich (a), Birmingham (h).

“Fixtures on paper mean nothing, you’ve got to go out and perform and get the points.” Howe told BBC South Today.

“Nothing is going to be given to us. We’re playing good sides with very good managers so we are under no illusions.

“We have been very good in recent games but we are going to need to maintain that, if not better it, to achieve our goal.

“We’ve enjoyed our break. We’ve worked incredibly hard and we’ve tried to come back a better team than when we left so time will tell.

“There are always things you can do better. The players have been very professional in their approach, I’ve had no issues with complacency.”

Watford's Daniel Tozser and Kike

2nd Watford (72 points). Easter fixtures - Derby (a), Boro (h)

“Derby and Middlesbrough are quality teams that want to play,” Hornets midfielder Daniel Tozser told the club’s website.

The most important thing now is just to look at Derby. Of course, they are a little bit behind us, but these are the games where you can make a big jump.

“If we win this game, then Derby could be out of the top two positions. Then we have Middlesbrough, so it’s a tough weekend.

“We have seven finals until the end. It cannot happen like it happened against Ipswich, conceding in the last minute.

“We have to be really concentrated - everybody, who is playing, who is on the bench, who is in the stands.

“Now is no time to be angry or hurt after the last game. Everybody has to be ready.”

Action Images

3rd Boro (72 points). Easter fixtures - Wigan (h), Watford (a)

“The season is relentless, but we knew that at the start,” Boro stopper Dimi Konstantopoulos told the club's website.

“That’s why we have a good squad with so many players who can come in and do a job, if needs be.

“We’ve coped with that very well and I think that’s been one of our bonuses this season, that we have such depth in our squad and we can deal with so many fixtures.

“We’re in the final sprint now, we’re well aware of that and we’re up for it.

We are pretty confident as a bunch of lads – we believe in our ability and we believe in each other.

“We are in this position because we’ve worked hard all season and I don’t think anyone in the team has any doubts that we’re good enough to finish where we want and that’s at the top.”

4th Norwich (70 points). Easter fixtures - Brighton (a), Sheffield Wednesday (h)

“We’ve found ourselves in a position now where automatic promotion is a real possibility, but it’s by no means anywhere near done,” Canaries boss Alex Neil told the club’s website.

“We’ve got huge amounts of work to do, and it starts on Friday. It’s crunch time now. The next few weeks are really going to dictate our future.

“Everyone has come back in good shape, which is obviously great news. They’re relatively fresh. A lot of the guys didn’t play in their second match away with their countries, which has been useful for us. In terms of preparation, it couldn’t have really gone any better.

“Our whole focus is on playing against Brighton and looking to play as well as we can. The players will be well briefed - they’ll know exactly what their task is. We’ll be fully prepared.”

5th Derby (67 points). Easter fixtures - Watford (h), Wigan (a)

“We’ve had a good two-week break. March is best forgotten to be honest and we must now look ahead to the next seven games,” Rams boss Steve McClaren told the club’s website.

“We hope that our blip is out of the way. We didn’t time ours very well but we are capable of getting back to winning matches.

“Easter is a big weekend in the Championship. I think that the promotion race will look a bit clearer by Tuesday morning.

“We’ve been performing pretty well in our recent matches, but we need to do a bit better in both boxes. We’re remaining confident.

“We need to get back to being solid at the back and scoring goals too. That is something that we can control. It’s vital for us.”

Adam Reach in action against Ipswich

6th Ipswich (67 points). Easter fixtures - Bournemouth (h), Huddersfield (a)

“In my opinion, Bournemouth are the best team in the league so we know what is ahead but it’s a challenge that we are relishing,” Mick McCarthy told Ipswich’s official website.

“We have beaten ‘the best teams in the league’ before at Portman Road.

“We will be going for it, no question about that and if we do win, we will be within three points off Bournemouth.

“I wasn’t being smart when I said I felt we were out of contention for the top two but then we had two wins on the bounce and others dropped points and now we have an opportunity. We need to take it.

“If we win, we will be right back in it. It should be a big crowd and they have a part to play as well.

“The support has been fantastic this season and we need them at their loudest for this game.”

7th Brentford (66 points). Easter fixtures - Fulham (a), Nottingham Forest (h)

“Many times people say a derby match negates facts about form, and the fact is that this is a huge London derby for us,” Mark Warburton told the club’s website.

“But we enter a run of five games in 15 days, so we’ve got to utilise the squad, and focus on each and every game.

“There’s 15 points up for grabs in that period and we have to recognise that this is the next game, the next chance to earn three points, and move to 69.

“There’s no need to excite the players as they are well aware of the importance of it.”

Leadbitter in action against Wolves

8th Wolves (65 points). Easter fixtures - Nottingham Forest (a), Leeds (h)

“One thing we’ve talked about this week - and put into training - is everyone being proud of their clean sheet record because it’s ourselves joint top with Middlesbrough at the moment,” Kenny Jackett told the Express and Star.

“So everyone earns that when we get one.

“Another thing we’ve talked about is that certainly since the turn of the year, our goalscoring has improved and our potential to score has improved.

Watch: Highlights from Wolves 2-0 Boro

“We want to keep both. Added to that if we could get some control in games, and control of our football, that would be great.

“To keep working at all three is hard to achieve in the Championship, because of the competitive nature of the division. But certainly the first two have been a feature of us having a good run in terms of results and points.

“We need to concentrate and make sure we can replicate that going forward.”

Simon Fallaha: Boro must re-establish their solidity and find the right attacking blend

By Monday afternoon, Boro fans may well feel that their dreams of automatic promotion are all but over.

Watford will put Aitor Karanka's men in their place and the Hornets will ride with the cheerful Cherries on a crest of a wave to the Premiership.

And we will all feel sick.

Alternatively, we may be punching the air with joy, in a direct and delightful reversal of the moody melancholia which followed the dreadful demolition at Bournemouth.

Nearly two weeks ago a tired looking Boro were outfought and outplayed by Eddie Howe's merciless marauders in what, at the time, felt like a regression from the seemingly more direct, fearlessly assertive approach that had paid dividends against Ipswich and Derby.

Reflecting on Boro's goals against both opponents, however, reveals that all five of them stemmed from clever passing movements, sharp breaks through the middle and patiently, perfectly timed assists.

All have been key elements throughout the entirety of what's amounted, so far, to a very successful season.

It is quite possible now that a series of fine, even terrific individual displays, particularly from Jonathan Woodgate, Albert Adomah, Lee Tomlin and Patrick Bamford, had presented an illusion of a hardened, braver and more toughened up Boro.

One that I had been all too happy to accept, and one that was painfully shattered at Dean Court.

Six points out of nine from the testing “Week Of Destiny” was a terrific return, no question.

But for the team to shoot themselves in the foot so spectacularly, at the very moment when the opportunity to cement a place in the top two had presented itself?

To say it seemed like Typical Boro all over again would be understating things.

The international break couldn't have been better timed, both for recovery and reflection.

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After the game I blamed the defeat on AK's approach to the match.

In my eyes his “contain and counter” strategy, so effective for so much of the season, had been too cautious and fearful against a Bournemouth side that had match-winners everywhere and were clearly hungrier, more forceful and more inventive.

Hindsight suggests, though, that however misguided AK may have appeared, his tactics were entirely understandable given the team's midweek exertions.

He simply did not have the right players available to him.

With neither Grant Leadbitter nor Adam Clayton inspiring – Ipswich, like many teams in the second half of this season, had worked hard to keep them quiet the week before – and with the absence of Daniel Ayala and Jonathan Woodgate to contend with, Boro looked flat and leaderless.

Imagine a draft newspaper article with three paragraphs that work pretty well in their own right, but do not flow into a cohesive whole and have no sense of direction.

In other words, you know something good's in there, but overall it doesn't work.

Jimmy Griffiths/Griffiths Photographers

Aitor Karanka at Bournemouth

That's what Boro were like against Bournemouth.

As Anthony Vickers pointed out, Emilio Nsue and Tomas Kalas were toasted by an all-too-eager Callum Wilson, as if Eddie Howe had taken one look at the uncertainty on Boro's right side and seized his chance.

Nsue needed a calm, reassuring presence alongside him, ditto Ben Gibson, and Kalas wasn't it; the Chelsea loanee is clearly more comfortable in the full-back position.

It was a matter of poor linkage between players in the defensive unit and throughout the entire team.

Recall when an on song Kenneth Omeruo would efficiently connect with the midfield duo or hit spectacular defence splitting through balls.

His glorious pass at home to Blackburn is still fresh in the mind. You won't see that today.

Middlesbrough's Kenneth Omeruo

Leadbitter long-rangers, Clayton charges and Adam Reach rockets are rare too; as a player, Reachy seems more Kevin Kilbane than Kevin Sheedy, which is all very well when you need perspiration, but not when you need inspiration.

The very inspiration that Muzzy Carayol might have provided in spurts on the left wing regardless of his fitness levels, which is why his departure on loan to Brighton feels a little disappointing.

Boro actually appear so limited creatively in midfield - who actually believes that either Dean Whitehead or Adam Forshaw will make a difference by themselves? - that the presence of any creative player, even Emmanuel Ledesma, may feel like the answer.

It would surely help take the pressure off Patrick Bamford.

Patrick Bamford

Bamford's isolation during the Bournemouth hiding made it apparent that Lee Tomlin cannot effectively support Bamford on his own.

If he plays centrally, Boro's latest goalden boy also needs Jelle Vossen, or Kike, as a supply striker behind him.

That, to me, raises a bigger issue than leadership at the back, although the arrivals of Fernando Amorebieta and Dwight Tiendalli are welcome.

When Boro secured promotion in 1997-98 with five wins in their last six matches, Bryan Robson had been unfortunate to lose goal machine Marco Branca midway through the run, but it mattered not; Paul Merson, Hamilton Ricard, Alun Armstong and Craig Hignett all stepped up to the plate.

Boro had alternatives even when the centrepiece of their attack was injured.

Today, can anyone really count on Kike and Vossen to deliver by themselves without the support of Tomlin, Bamford or both?

The conclusion of this up in the air promotion campaign is therefore dependent on how effectively the players can utilise their obvious gifts and how well AK organises the resources available to him before the match.

If AK and Boro can prove themselves up to the challenge of finding the right attacking blends at the right time while re-establishing their once imperious solidity, the club will truly be worthy of the automatic promotion they and we desire.

Burglar left DNA after breaking into Eston house because of local cannabis farm rumours

A burglar blew it when he broke into a house that he believed was a drugs farm, a court heard today.

The address in Avondale Close, Middlesbrough, was boarded up but it was rumoured locally to be a cannabis grow.

Heavy cannabis user Liam Taylor, 21, pulled a board away from a window but he cut himself scrambling through before finding nothing and leaving a trail of blood.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters told Teesside Crown Court that Taylor, who had a previous conviction for aggravated vehicle taking, was identified and traced from the DNA link.

He said that he targeted it on January 20 after hearing the rumours because he was smoking a lot of cannabis.

Miss Masters added: “He said in interview that someone had told him that the person who lived there had stored a lot of cannabis.

“He denied having stolen anything from the premises.”

Nicola Horton, defending, said that the address was known in the area as a grow house for cannabis.

Taylor was in a confused state on the day that he went there and he left without finding anything.

She said that his partner was pregnant with their second child and he now had a seven day a week job, both of which had made him stop using cannabis.

The judge told him that he had come near to going to prison.

Judge Howard Crowson said: “It was deliberate and you targeted the place thinking that you might get some cannabis.

“As the father of two young children, it is essential that you play a more responsible role in society.”

Taylor, of Welton House, Fulbeck Road, Middlesbrough, was given an 18-month community order with a Thinking Skills programme and £85 costs and £60 Victim surcharge after he pleaded guilty to burglary.

VIEW: Take a look round Middlesbrough's newest nightspot

Take a look around the newest addition to Linthorpe Road’s nightlife.

Valentino’s is set to open in time to welcome drinkers over the Easter weekend.

The fully refurbished bar is opening at the former Tiki Lounge close to Southfield Road, which closed more than a year ago.

And general manager Peter Blyth is looking forward to launching the business in one of Middlesbrough town centre’s busiest areas.

Peter, who has 30 years experience in the Middlesbrough pub trade, said: “I had The Lobby on Albert Road, but that part of town is becoming dead now, it is much busier over here on Linthorpe Road.

“We have fully refurbished the bar. It used to be Tiki Lounge, Harveys and Osbornes, but I think with what we’ve done now is the best it’s ever been in here.”

Peter Reimann/The Gazette

Valentino's, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. Teesside. Peter Blyth.

Peter, 55, who also worked for 11 years at former pub the Ayresome Park, said he hopes the bar caters for everyone in the town.

He continued: “We will play all types of music - soul, house, indie, pop, disco - we don’t want to alienate anyone.

“We want to have a nice pleasant atmosphere and welcome everyone here.”

The bar will open until 2am and open at weekends - but Peter said he hopes to start opening on Tuesdays, which is popular with students.

Valentino’s open tonight for a VIP evening, and will then open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights over the Easter weekend.

The bar offers VIP areas, with information on their Facebook page.

Live: Preview to Wigan, Tomas Kalas loan update, Boro receive fitness boost

The Gazette's Boro live blog brings you the latest news, views, rumours and more about Middlesbrough FC.

Our sports team are with you for live weekday coverage including photos, nostalgia, interviews, surveys and the best of Boro social media.

Give us your thoughts by tweeting via our #BoroLive hashtag, at @GazetteBoro or find us on Facebook.

Grangetown man awaits fate in prison after admitting unlawfully wounding woman

A man is waiting in prison to receive his sentence after he admitted charges of serious assault and breaching a restraining order.

Christopher Pinchbeck today admitted the unlawful wounding of a woman on March 15.

The 21-year-old admitted breaching a restraining order by contacting the same woman on the same date.

He also pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order by going within 100m of a Guisborough home on January 24.

The restraining order was made by Teesside Crown Court in October last year.

Finally, Pinchbeck admitted damaging a window belonging to the woman on January 24.

Pinchbeck, of Somerset Road, Grangetown, appeared at Teesside Crown Court via video link to Holme House Prison in Stockton.

He entered his guilty pleas to the four offences during a short preliminary hearing. He was remanded in custody until April 20 for sentencing.

The judge, Recorder Eric Elliott QC, said: “That’s no indication of the nature of the sentence.”

Tomas Kalas loan departure date confirmed by Aitor Karanka

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.”

A19 to remain partially closed until 10pm after tanker driver's 'lucky escape'

A section of the A19 is expected to remain closed until at least 10pm tonight to allow for the recovery of an overturned lorry.

Emergency services including police, fire and the Great North Air Ambulance were called to the A174 Thornaby intersection at 9.45am.

The 48-year-old driver was cut free from his cab by fire crews after his tanker overturned into a hedge back.

He was taken by road to James Cook University Hospital with head and neck injuries as well as a broken arm.

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A road closure put in place shortly after 10am caused significant traffic delays for drivers heading away from Middlesbrough towards Northallerton.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said one lane would remain closed until at least 10pm.

She said: “We were aiming to re-open one lane of the A19 Southbound at around 1.30pm and the other lane will remain closed for the rest of today, likely until at least 10pm tonight, until we are in position to close the road to recover the tanker without causing too much disruption.

“Closing the road to recover the tanker could potentially take a few hours and therefore we have decided to do it tonight when there won’t be as much traffic about.”

At the scene a policeman said the lorry driver had “a very lucky escape.”

Stockton Fire Station watch manager Mick Island added: “The lorry had snapped a lot of trees when it fell and we cut through the window to release the trapped drive. He’s been extremely lucky.”

Centre for Process Innovation generates £12 for every pound of public money it's received

A Teesside tech organisation has generated an estimated £12 for every pound of public money it has received.

The Centre for Process Innovation, which has bases in Wilton and NETPark in Sedgefield, says its activities have created £2.4bn of GVA (gross value added) since it was established in 2004.

During that period the organisation, which helps firms explore commercial applications for new and existing technologies, has received around £200m of public subsidies - resulting in a return on investment ratio of 12 to one.

The CPI research also showed that the organisation has helped more than 3,000 companies develop new products and processes, with around 1,000 of these firms directly involved in CPI-led schemes.

The organisation, headed up by CEO Nigel Perry, helps science and engineering experts develop, prototype and scale up a wide range of tech products and processes from bendable sheet lighting to complex formulations used in household goods.

Its National Centre for Printable Electronics has been a feature of NetPark since 2009 but a host of other initiatives are set to launch in the next three years.

Centre For Process Innovation - CPI

These include a £18m National Centre for Healthcare Photonics, a £28m National Science Centre that will develop complex formulated product applications, a Graphene Applications Innovation Centre and a £38m National Biologics Manufacturing Centre (NBMC), which will help firms develop new and cost-effective treatments for patients.

The CPI said it had secured a multi-million pipeline of work ahead of the NBMC launch later this year in Darlington.

Jonathan Robinson, CPI head of business development in biologics, said: “We have four projects knocking on the door now and funding has been secured for these.

“We also have a pipeline of three or four other companies that want to work with us. We’ll find out whether we’ll get the funding for this around the middle of the year.

“These companies are major players in the industry. We’re finding that we’re getting some pretty significant people who want to be a part of all this.”

The initial four projects include the development of treatments for diabetes and rare cancers, the testing of gene behaviour to determine appropriate medicines for patients, and a scheme to explore supply chain barriers to improving the delivery of cost-effective therapies.

Mr Robinson said: “These are some exciting projects. Horizon Discovery [gene project] involves the testing and editing of gene sequences. They can generate artifical genes which mimic a patient’s genes to see if a particular treatment is working effectively.”

The CPI has secured grants of around £4.2m to carry out the four projects, although additional funding streams will take that figure well over the £20m mark.

A 27-strong team of experts has been assembled and will work at the biologics centre when it opens this autumn.

Teesside insolvency firm bought out by 'market leader'

Hartlepool firm Broadbents Business Recovery Services is set for further growth after being bought out by a professional services consultancy.

Begbies Traynor Group has acquired the insolvency firm, which also has a base in York, for an undisclosed sum.

Dave Broadbent’s ten-strong team will merge with Begbies Traynor’s existing teams following the sale.

Established in August 2010, Broadbents tincludes a licensed insolvency practitioner and three managers who work for clients mainly across the North-east and Yorkshire.

On Teesside, Jonathan Todd and Lorraine Mulgrew of Broadbents will join forces with Ian Royle who heads up Begbies Traynor’s office in Thornaby.

Andrew Haslam, partner in the North-east, will continue to lead the Begbies Traynor team on Tyneside.

Broadbents co-founder Andy Peace will continue to play a key role in the York office, supported by senior manager Ian Gostellow alongside the Begbies Traynor team headed by partner Rob Sadler.

Julian Pitts, regional managing partner for Begbies Traynor in Yorkshire and the North-east, said: “We have remained close to Dave since he left Begbies Traynor to set up his own firm five years ago, and we know how well regarded he is in the North Yorkshire and Teesside business community.

“We wanted to grow our presence in York and on Teesside, and joining forces with Dave and his team will deepen our breadth of expertise and complement our own resources perfectly,” he added.

The Broadbents Hartlepool office will merge with Begbies Traynor’s office in Thornaby, and both will relocate to a new, larger base in the coming months.

The Broadbents York team will relocate to Begbies Traynor’s offices at Clifton Moor in York, taking headcount in the city to 12.

Dave, who has worked in the insolvency sector for almost 20 years, said: “Having built a niche practice specialising in providing quality advice to small businesses and individuals, I would like to reassure our clients that it will be very much business as usual.

“Our commitment to offering an excellent service at a competitive price will continue and the Broadbents team will have the additional benefit of working as part of a larger firm with all the depth of resource that brings.

“Having successfully undertaken a number of joint instructions in recent years, I am confident that we are the perfect fit.” Our Begbies Traynor colleagues will continue to deal with the larger, more complex cases, and we will focus on what we do best, working with smaller, owned and managed businesses and individuals.

“Begbies Traynor is the market leader here, and it makes perfect sense to team up with the colleagues I have known for almost 15 years, and who are committed to expansion and investment in the region.”

Begbies Traynor Group currently has eight offices and employs around 100 staff in Yorkshire and the North-east. The group offers a full range of professional services including insolvency and corporate recovery, restructuring, investigations and risk, and forensic accounting advice.

Regeneration boss hails change in business confidence on Teesside as 'staggering'

A regeneration boss has hailed a change in business confidence on Teesside over the last few years as “staggering” - and predicted further growth in the months and years ahead.

Stephen Catchpole, managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU) said the Tees Valley “has the ability to stand on its own two feet” when it comes to local issues.

He was speaking at the latest monthly meeting of the Tees Valley Business Club, where he addressed a full house of 80 delegates at the Wilton Centre in Redcar.

Looking back over his five years at the helm of the local enterprise partnership for Teesside, he said: “Like everywhere else, maybe even more than other areas, we suffered the effects of the recession.

“It was a blow to lose the steelworks. But I struggled to understand the psychological impact until SSI announced it was starting it up again.

“The change in business confidence has been staggering. I can’t stand here and pretend that we’re in sunlit uplands now, but we are certainly making progress.”

He outlined how big an impact the LEP has had on the region.

In the last four and a half years, £3bn worth of foreign investment has flooded into the Tees Valley, of which TVU was responsible for attracting up to £1.5bn.

More than 5,000 jobs have been secured through inward investment, while in terms of Government cash a total of £180m was awarded to the area through the Regional Growth Fund.

He also spoke of the successes of the Skills and Jobs scheme, which brought a £7m cash boost, as well as the Business Compass Grant scheme, the £20m Let’s Grow pot, and a further £10m from Contract Catalyst which was created to help businesses secure contracts.

A £750m investment in Enterprise Zones, creating 700 jobs, was highlighted as well as £100m through the Local Growth Fund.

As far as plans moving forward go, Mr Catchpole outlined his hope that the A19 would be improved along with rail improvements to create a high-speed direct link between Middlesbrough and London.

He added: “Tees Valley has become much more confident in itself, and I hope that continues.

“The LEP has done well, you have done well and the Tees Valley has the ability to stand on its own two feet for most local issues.

“I’m really optimistic about the future of this area.”

Joan Louw, Business Growth Manager for the Business Growth Fund, also explained to delegates what funding is available to them to help secure growth, and went through the avenues of how to apply for it.

The Business Growth Fund, which was initially launched as Growth Accelerator, is open from micro-firms up to SMEs and then larger organisations with up to 250 employees, and advice was given on where the funding is sourced from.

Only two Teesside boxers left in this year's Senior Elite Championships

Only two Teesside boxers are left in this season’s Senior Elite Championships following the opening Tyne, Tees and Wear skirmishes at Spennymoor Leisure Centre.

Former Wellington ABC middleweight Louis Cunningham was the only one of five amateur fighters from the area to win his division.

Now representing East Durham, the 23-year-old outpointed Lambton Street, Sunderland’s Jordan Rought.

England international Cunningham set a high tempo in the first two rounds and won well, despite receiving a warning for a low blow.

He now goes forward to the pre-quarter finals when the Tyne, Tees and Wear box Yorkshire, who start their regional phase in York on Sunday.

Middlesbrough ABC light-flyweight Joe Maphosa has already been seeded through to the quarter-finals, which kick-start three days of Elite Championship boxing in Liverpool from April 24-26.

The 20-year-old is one of nine seeded men, along with Darlington middleweight Troy Williamson.

Hartlepool Headland’s former world middleweight champion Savannah Marshall and 2012 Olympics golden girl Nicola Adams are among the five seeded women.

Cunningham’s former Wellington ABC team-mates Kalam Leather and Peter Martin were good value despite bowing out of their weight categories.

Leather beat North Benwell’s Liam Kelly on a split decision in the welterweight quarter-finals.

He was then outscored by Gary Dodds in the semis after re-opening a bad cut over the Spennymoor southpaw’s right eye.

Martin was an ABA middleweight finalist in 2012, the same year Leather’s twin brother Josh struck lightweight gold and Maphosa finished runner-up at bantamweight.

After stepping up to light heavyweight, he lost a narrow unanimous decision to another Spennymoor boxer - Reece Ellis.

“They both did well and Leather is improving all the time,” said Wellington coach John Dryden.

Redcar ABC coach Frankie Wales questioned the judging after Tom Hill was eliminated at welterweight, dropping a unanimous decision to Lambton Street’s James Downes.

“We thought Tom landed the cleaner shots,” Wales said.

Hall Close ABC in Ormesby were also unhappy with the scoring after junior star Jahmal Weaver lost his Senior Elite debut.

The 18-year-old former Junior ABA and CYP champion lost a split decision to Sunderland light-heavyweight Steve Pattison, to the amazement of his trainer Brian Smith.

He said: “I was baffled. At the start of the season we were told the judges are looking for boxers to dictate the pace from the centre of the ring.

“Jahmal did that from the second round onwards as far as I’m concerned. It was his first bout since December and I was pleased with him.”

Redcar ABC’s Adil Hassan entered the championships at featherweight but had to pull out due to work commitments.

Niddlesbrough boxer Simon Vallily aiming to make Geordie crowd roar

Siomon Vallily is out to steal some of his former Great Britain team-mate Anthony Joshua’s thunder when he boxes on Saturday’s big Geordie Roar show in Newcastle.

Olympic heavyweight gold medallist Joshua is the main attraction at Newcastle Arena, where the hard-hitting Watford star confronts veteran American Jason Gavern.

Vallily has his own agenda on the undercard though and is aiming to boost his professional record to 7-0 and look impressive while doing it.

The Middlesbrough cruiserweight faces Poznan, Poland’s Wlodzimierz Letr, a late replacement for Bolton’s injured Paul Drago, over six scheduled rounds.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vallily, 29, said: “It’s a big show and I know Anthony Joshua well from back on the GB team.

“He has got all the tools to be a heavyweight champion and there are some good fights on the show.

“It’s a pity Bradley Saunders isn’t on it any more (the Sedgefield light welterweight has had hand surgery).

“But I’m just concentrating on myself, to be honest.

“It’s a big occasion in the North-east and I’m determined to enjoy it and put on a good performance.

“My opponent is a southpaw but it doesn’t matter. I will work him out quickly.”

Vallily’s cruiserweight peers Jon-Lewis Dickinson and Stephen Simmons also do battle on the Sky Sports card.

Plus, Dickinson’s brother Travis and Bradley Saunders’ debuting brother Jeff are on the 11-bout bill, which features a first professional outing for Lewis Ritson.

FORMER Phil Thomas School of Boxing amateur Chris Wood celebrated a quick win on his professional debut in Leeds.

The 27-year-old stopped Edgars Milevics after one minute of the first round at the Przym nightclub, flooring him twice.

Is this Teesside's youngest landlord?: Michael's the new host at historic Fox Inn in Guisborough

A new fresh-thinking landlord has taken over at a historic pub - at the tender age of 21.

As the former manager of The Central in Middlesbrough, Michael Crane already has a wealth of experience in the pub trade and a positive attitude to boot.

And he hopes his youth and ideas will help breathe new life into The Fox Inn in Guisborough pub, which he says was “doing nothing”, when he first arrived.

“It didn’t have anything,” he said.

“The pub was closed from 2pm til 9pm before so it was dead on an afternoon when I first came but we’re open all day now, serving food from breakfast and on a night and we’re also doing a carvery every Sunday.

Michael Crane

“We’ve got live music with good bands, and we’ve put in tellies with Sky Sports.

“The SkaBeats were the first band on and they said it was one of the best nights they’ve had. They’re coming back on May 9.

“It’s going really well. The locals seem to like me; people who haven’t been in for years and coming back and they say it’s good to see a young lad taking over.”

Michael, who lives in Berwick Hills, was born in North Ormesby and went to Unity City Academy.

He is the only member of his family in the pub trade and was introduced by Bernie Jenkins, owner of The Central in Corporation Road in Middlesbrough.

“I left school and did joinery at first but then my girlfriend’s dad took me on at The Central when I was 17,” he said.

The Fox Inn at Guisborough

He was manager there for two and a half years and worked briefly as a dumper driver before taking the reins at the Fox Inn on February 10.

The pub on Bow Street has a long history in the town.

It was used by the proprietor Mr Knaggs as a coaching inn from the early 1820s.

The original mounting steps, used by horse drawn carriage drivers en route to Whitby, are still outside the building.

It was demolished and rebuilt in 1926 when it was bought by the Newcastle Brewery. Now owned by Punch, it boasts an outdoor area, eight letting rooms and a carpark.

It also has its own resident ghost George, whom Michael says he has yet to meet.

Mum jailed for falsely claiming over £68,000 in benefits regains her freedom after 'slip rule' hearing

A mum who was jailed after falsely claiming more than £68,000 in benefits has regained her freedom following a change to her sentence.

Angelina Brown, 38, from Vulcan Way, Thornaby, had been jailed for 15 months by Judge Howard Crowson on Friday after a jury found her guilty of three charges relating to benefit fraud at a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

But at a short hearing in front of the same judge earlier this week, Brown regained her freedom when her sentence was suspended for 12 months.

The second sentencing hearing was listed under the term “slip rule” - under which the Crown Court has the power to alter a sentence or other order made by the Crown Court within 56 days of the date on which it was made.

One of the reasons given for altering the sentence was that Brown’s 19-year-old son had been forced to return from university to look after his siblings.

Brown had previously been jailed for 15 months after a jury found she had deliberately failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions that she was living with her partner - a change in circumstances that meant she was no longer entitled to the benefits she was claiming.

She was found guilty on one count of failing to notify a change of circumstances and two counts of making dishonest representations for obtaining benefits.

In total, Brown had fraudulently obtained £68,213 in benefit payments between February 2003 and October 2010, the court heard.

Defending Brown at a sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court on Friday March 27, Adrian Dent said a prison sentence would make it difficult for the single mother to find care for her children.

“She knows that this must be visited by a custodial sentence,” said Mr Dent before requesting that the judge consider a suspended sentence, “That would allow the children to have a stable upbringing.”

Mr Dent added: “One of her three sons is 13 and has hearing impairment.

“Looking after a brood like this is extremely difficult.

“In addition, she is of course subject to deductions to her benefits.”

But Judge Crowson was not convinced by the mitigation and noted that by Mr Dent’s standards, “any mother with children and on benefits couldn’t go to prison.”

He added: “I might be more sympathetic if she hadn’t managed before to drop everything at short notice and go on holiday to Tunisia.

“The amount was £68,213 over a period of seven years.

“It’s going to take a long time to settle that. There is little or no possibility it will ever be recovered.

“I’m going to pass the right sentence for what she did.”

Sentencing Brown to 15 months in prison, the judge rejected Mr Dent’s request to suspend the sentence explaining that to do so would send out the message that single mothers could cheat the benefits system with no fear of going to prison.

However at the hearing on Tuesday, Judge Crowson suspended the 15 month sentence for 12 months with six months supervision.

Dream Home: Exclusive £550,000 Grade II listed property dating back to the 1840s

This week’s dream home is a Grade II listed haven nestled in the countryside surrounding Teesside.

It is a peaceful spot to live in and a property which has its own touch of the wow factor - The Stables sits in the grounds of Rudby Hall, Hutton Rudby, and dates back to the 1840s when the hall and its associated buildings were constructed.

The Stables is on the market with a guide price of £550,000, for more information contact the Stokesley office on Roseberry Newhouse on 01642 711111.

VIEW GALLERY

Location: The Stables, Hutton Rudby

Bedrooms: Four

Reception rooms: Three including a fairly large reception hall

Bathrooms: Three bathrooms - one family bathroom and two en suites

Gardens and outside space: A large shared courtyard at the front and a smaller split level cobbled garden at the rear

Which room has the biggest wow factor?: The entrance hall with a galleried first floor landing. The kitchen and lounge are quite impressive too, says the owner

What’s the best thing about living in the location?: “Skutterskelfe is in a very quiet and exclusive rural area. This property is one of several Grade ll listed buildings in this hamlet,” says the owner

Driveway? Shared driveway and two garages

Closest schools: Hutton Rudby primary and Stokesley secondary

Improvements? “Many improvements since purchased,” explains the owner. “We have has an Aga fitted in the kitchen - all kitchen surfaces are now granite. Structural alterations to small sitting room and also to main bedroom, an en suite in the main bedroom, we have also replaced the fireplace in the lounge plus many other smaller improvements.”

Watch: Tanker driver's lucky escape after vehicle overturns on A19 southbound

A tanker driver had a lucky escape after his vehicle overturned on a major Teesside road.

A section of the A19 southbound was closed for more than an hour after a tanker carrying a non-hazardous substance tipped over just after the A174 Thornaby intersection at 9.45am today.

Emergency services including police, fire, and the Great North Air Ambulance attended although the 48-year-old driver was taken to hospital by road with a broken arm, head and neck injuries.

It took fire crews around 45 minutes to free the driver who was trapped by his arm in the cabin.

One lane of the southbound carriageway of the A19 was re-opened for a short time to ease congestion but was closed to allow for the tanker to be recovered.

Significant traffic delays were caused for drivers heading away from Middlesbrough towards Northallerton, just after the Low Lane flyover.

A policeman at the scene said the driver had “a very lucky escape.”

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “We were called about 15 minutes ago to reports of an overturned articulated lorry.

"The driver was trapped for a period of time. He was taken to James Cook University Hospital by road although the Great North Air Ambulance did attend.”

“The accident is causing significant traffic disruption and we urge motorists to avoid the area for the next 90 minutes at least.”

Thunderbird 4 patrols River Thames ahead of new TV show Thunderbirds Are Go

Thunderbird 4 has been patrolling the River Thames in London today ahead of the launch of new series Thunderbirds Are Go on Saturday.

The series will feature Thomas Brodie-Sangster as John Tracy.

The re-invention of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s iconic series will also star Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Pride and Prejudice) as Lady Penelope and original cast member David Graham who reprises his role as Parker as well as Kayvan Novak (Fonejacker, Facejacker) as inventor Brains.

David Parry/PA Wire

Thunderbird 4 patrols the River Thames by the Houses of Parliament

The picture features the brothers, [L-R] Scott, Virgil, Alan, Gordon and John in front of their home; the exotic Tracy Island.

The action packed reboot has been produced using a unique mix of CGI animation and live-action model sets to deliver a new level of action-adventure animation whilst also paying tribute to the classic 1960’s phenomenon.

The major new children’s series - a co-production between ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures in association with world-famous Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings, Avatar) - is set to debut internationally in Spring 2015 in the UK exclusively on ITV and CITV.