TheCable

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo is a major doubt for Middlesbrough’s English Championship league season opener against Birmingham City on Saturday, according to his manager, Aitor Karanka.

Omeruo completed his loan switch from Chelsea to Boro on Wednesday, following a delayed summer break due to his World Cup commitments with Nigeria.

And his boss has now said his ward is unlikely to be fit enough to start against Birmingham at the Riverside Stadium on August 9.

“I don’t think he’ll be ready,” Karanka told gazettelive.co.uk.

“But that’s not a problem for him. I know what kind of player he is and he will have plenty of opportunities to play.

“If he is not ready for the first game, we have Ben Gibson, Dani Ayala, Christian Burgess or Seb Hines.

“They worked very well in pre-season and the season is very long.”

Omeruo is on his second loan spell with Middlesbrough after being told by parent club, Chelsea, that he cannot be guaranteed a starting position.