Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate has confirmed that right-back Anfernee Dijksteel is closing in on a return to first-team action. The Dutchman has been out with a knee injury since November but he is expected to play in a friendly next week before being back in contention for first-team games.

Daniel Ayala is still a few weeks away from making his comeback from an ankle injury, while Dael Fry is likely to be out for a month with a thigh problem he picked up in the 2-2 draw against Wigan. Patrick Roberts is the only other player unavailable as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury:

Middlesbrough’s Predicted XI To Face Barnsley:

Pears, Spence, Shotton, Moukoudi, Friend, Coulson, Saville, Wing, McNair, Fletcher, Assombalonga

Barnsley are still without goalkeeper Sami Radlinger, with the Austrian a couple of weeks away from returning from a muscular injury. Callum Styles will also be missing after being ruled out for six weeks due to an ankle problem.

Marcel Ritzmaier is, though, back in contention with the midfielder having recovered from a knee injury which kept him out of the Tykes’ last four matches.

Barnsley’s Predicted XI:

Collins, Ludewig, Sollbauer, Halme, Williams, Bahre, Thomas, Mowatt, Chaplin, Woodrow, Brown

The bookies have Barnsley as the slight favourites with Unibet pricing them at 8/5 for the win. A draw is 5/2 with Sky Bet while a Boro victory is 19/10 at BetVictor.

Predicted Score – 1-1