Targett, Hackney, McGree, Jones - Boro injury update ahead of Watford

The Boro boss had previously set a tentative return date of Wrexham next weekend, but did explain then that being exact with that is difficult. Hackney’s calf issue is such that an exact return date is tough to pinpoint because it all depends on when the discomfort subsides and allows the midfielder to train again.

Hackney himself, after collecting his Championship Player of the Season award, admitted his frustrations with the recovery process, saying it was taking longer than had initially been hoped.

It’s a concern for Boro, who would have ideally like to reintroduce the 23-year-old in some form at Wrexham next weekend, in order to rebuild his match sharpness ahead of what now looks likely to be a play-off campaign.

Putting that in doubt, however, Hellberg updated ahead of Saturday’s clash with Watford: “It won’t be tomorrow for him [Hackney]. To be fair, I don’t really know how long it will be. He’s getting better with every day that’s going. I will tell you when he will be ready to play, but to be fair, I don’t know.”

More because of the nature of the injury, he was able to provide a bit more clarity on Riley McGree, who has missed Boro’s last two matches with an unknown issue picked up the day before the Ipswich draw.

“Riley will probably not be playing against Watford either,” Hellberg said. “I think he needs the game tomorrow and then some more days after that, to be fair. But he will be a part of the training again next week, which is good.”

Hellberg doesn’t have any concerns regarding Matt Targett, however. The left-back has been playing through the pain barrier for Boro for much of the campaign, and was once again forced off late against Sheffield Wednesday during the week. But Hellberg confirmed the Newcastle United loanee would be in the squad for the Watford clash.

But a fellow defender who won’t be, and now might not be again this season, is Alfie Jones. Having undergone ankle surgery in January, Jones was hoping to be back just after last month’s international break.

However, Hellberg recently admitted the centre-back, who had been a contender for Boro’s Player of the Year award in the first half of the season, was not near. Asked if, with just two games remaining, that likely means it’s season over for the 28-year-old, Hellberg admitted that was most likely.

Hellberg said: “You never want to say 100 per cent, but I think it will be difficult for him [Jones] to participate in the rest of the season. Things can sometimes happen to change that, but it doesn’t look like it at the moment.”

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