Blackburn Rovers set to face ‘Scary’ injury in Middlesbrough clash This Weekend Sidelined For 5- Weeks
Middlesbrough go in search of a fourth straight win on Saturday afternoon.
After a recent dip in form, Michael Carrick‘s side have responded in excellent style recently.
Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at Birmingham City was their third on the bounce. That has put them 9th in the Championship table, five points adrift of the play-off places.
There are still nine games of the regular season remaining, in which they could overhaul that deficit.
Next up for Middlesbrough in their attempts to do that, is the visit of Blackburn Rovers to The Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Now, it looks as though that game will bring ‘Boro back into contact, with a familiar face.
Aynsley Pears set for return from injury
Having come through the youth ranks at Middlesbrough, Pears spent several years in and around the first-team squad at The Riverside Stadium.
That included making 25 senior appearances for the club during the 2019/20 season. However, he was then sold to Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2020.
As a result of that move, Pears found himself playing under a former Middlesbrough manager, in the form of Tony Mowbray.
Speaking shortly after that deal had been completed, Mowbray had described Pears as a ‘quality’ goalkeeper.
Despite that, he had to wait for his chance to really establish himself at Ewood Park. Much of his first three years following his departure from Middlesbrough, were spent playing second-fiddle to Thomas Kaminski at Blackburn Rovers.
But after the Belgian’s departure for Luton Town in the summer, the 25-year-old looks to have established himself as first choice between the posts for the Lancashire club this season.
That is despite some injury issues. The latest of which is a concussion that has kept him out his side’s last two games.
However, it has been confirmed that is now fit and available again. He could therefore, now be set to take on his former club in Middlesbrough, on Saturday afternoon.
Could he frustrate Middlesbrough?
It is likely that ‘Boro will see this game as something of an opportunity to claim another win on Saturday.
While they are in decent form, Blackburn Rovers are not. The visitors to The Riverside this weekend have won just two of their last 19 Championship games.
That has left them 18th in the table, just three points clear of the relegation zone. But if Carrick’s side are to take advantage of that, they will have to get past Pears.
Prior to his injury, the 25-year-old had been in arguably the best form of his Blackburn Rovers career.
The goalkeeper had been both commanding his area decisively, and making some spectacular saves. Those contributions had helped his team at least draw games they may otherwise have lost, amid this lack of wins.
If he can pick up where he left off if he returns to action this afternoon, it is unlikely that Middlesbrough will find it easy to get past him.
Should be that the case, Pears will have done his old club no favours in their pursuit of a top six finish.
