Thursday 14 July 2016 15:52, UK
Middlesbrough captain Grant Leadbitter will miss the start of the Premier League season after undergoing surgery to repair a hernia problem.
The 30-year-old midfielder was a key figure in Boro's promotion to the Premier League last season despite needing a series of painkilling injections to play through the final two months of the campaign.
The hernia operation was a success, but revealed the injury was more serious than initially thought, meaning he will miss the opening games of Boro's return to the top flight.
"Grant Leadbitter is set to miss the start of the 2016/17 Premier League season after undergoing surgery earlier this year," the club confirmed on its website.
"The Boro skipper had an operation to correct an injury he had been carrying for the last two months of the season and further investigation has shown that the injury is worse than first anticipated."
Middlesbrough will also have to do without James Husband for the foreseeable future as they continue to prepare for their season opener against Stoke on August 13.
The full-back is due to have surgery on the shoulder he dislocated during last Saturday's 6-0 friendly victory at York and could be out for three months.
The statement continued: "James Husband also joins the injury list and is facing a lengthy spell out of action with the left-back awaiting an operation to repair a dislocated shoulder.
"Husband fell awkwardly at York City last Saturday and had to be replaced by George Friend. The defender could be out for up to three months."
Meanwhile, central defender Daniel Ayala will sit out Saturday's friendly trip to Doncaster with the ankle problem he suffered shortly after his return for pre-season training.
