Gary O’Neil has been forced to delay hernia surgery due to an injury concern over Didier Digard.

David Wheater is set for his first pre-season action but Didier Digard will miss Saturday’s friendly against Carlisle.

Gareth Southgate has moved quickly to play down the severity of Didier Digard’s hip injury picked up in Boro’s 5-0 win at Dumbarton.

Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard is expected to be fit for the start of pre-season training after an injury-hit first season on Teesside.

Digard set for starting role as Boro take dogfight to relegation rivals Newcastle

Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard cannot believe the club has been plunged into a fight for its Barclays Premier League life.

Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard stepped up his comeback bid by playing more than an hour in the reserves’ 2-0 win over Manchester City.The 22-year-old Frenchman got 65 minutes under his belt in Tuesday night’s triumph at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard will step up his bid to play a part in the club’s fight for survival when he turns out for the reserves.The 22-year-old Frenchman, a 4million summer signing from Paris St Germain, will start for Gareth Southgate’s second string against Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday.

Didier Digard has ruled himself out of Middlesbrough’s relegation battle as he does not want to ‘rush’ his return from injury.

Didier Digard has ruled himself out of Middlesbrough’s relegation battle as he does not want to ‘rush’ his return from knee and groin injuries.The French midfielder was on the end of a crunching tackle from former Boro star Lee Cattermole in their match with Wigan last month.