Boro's centre-back crisis showing signs of easing

Rav van den Berg injured his knee in training and has missed five games

Middlesbrough's injury crisis in central defence is showing signs of easing ahead of their game with Oxford United on Saturday.

Rav van den Berg is back in training after a knee injury, although head coach Michael Carrick will still have to make a call on him before the game.

George Edmundson could return to training next week but Dael Fry's return from a calf injury is a little further away.

In the absence of these three and longer-term absentee Darragh Lenihan, left-back Neto Borges and midfielder Jonny Howson have played together at centre-half in the last two games.

"Rav has trained with us in a small capacity so far this week," Carrick told BBC Look North.

"He's made a good step. It's a bit of a step for Saturday, but we'll see."

Australia midfielder Riley McGree is also back in training as he recovers from an injury that has kept him out since 11 January, an absence of 12 games.

Boro sit eighth as the Championship resumes after the international break, three points outside the play-off spots.