Paddy McNair and Marc Bola injury updates from Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder

Chris Wilder is hoping both Paddy McNair and Marc Bola will be back with the group shortly after both picking up injuries in pre-season. Both are expected to be minor setbacks that don't keep the duo out for too long.

Bola limped out of the York City friendly earlier in the month with a groin strain and it meant he missed the trip to Portugal last week. McNair, meanwhile, was a shock absentee from Tuesday night's friendly win at Morecambe, with Wilder revealing after that the centre-back twisted his ankle in training.

Wilder clarified on McNair after: “He just turned his ankle over in training and it just shows how quickly you can lose a player. You’ve lost a player just like that from an innocuous coming together in training. These things happen from time to time and you can’t do much about it.

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"It’s not an overuse and underuse injury, it’s a compact one, turning his ankle in training, going for a tackle with one of the boys and falling awkwardly. These things can happen. We’re hopeful it won’t be too long, obviously he misses the first game of the season anyway [through suspension], so we’ll see how he goes with that one and hopefully get him back as soon as possible because he is a big player for us."

Meanwhile, he is hoping Bola will be back in action before the season starts. The first-team play Marseille at the Riverside on Friday evening, while on Wednesday evening a Middlesbrough XI take on Whitby Town, and the under-23s play Darlington on Saturday, offering ample opportunities.

Wilder said of the left-back: He’s okay. He had a tight groin so no good taking him just to give him treatment so he’ll be part of the