Striker crisis on Teesside

Boro's run of injuries continued at the weekend. It started with Tuncay limping off in the first 15 minutes and then Mido picked up a hamstring injury. With both of these players likely to be missing the next couple of games and Aliadiere already out for a month, also with a hamstring problem, strikers are thin on the ground.

Dong Gook Lee is the only senior striker left fit so Gareth Southgate is likely to turn to 20-year-old Tom Craddock for the Cup tie at Spurs on Wednesday. He has previously had one brief substitute appearance back in May 2006. He has scored three in three games for the reserves this season.


It is also highly probable that Ben Hutchinson will be drafted into the squad from the reserves. He also has three reserve goals this season.

Southgate may try to find a solution outside of the club. He told the official club site "I might have to look at people who are out of contract and available on a free."