Middlesbrough's squad is stretched thin by a growing injury list ahead of their next fixture. The club will be without eight players for the visit of Cardiff City, including summer signing Alfie Jones.

Jones, a £4.3 million arrival, is set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. The defender is expected to be out for around three weeks. He joins a significant group of absentees that also includes key forward Rokas Pukstas, who is recovering from a knee ligament issue.

The full injury list

Manager Michael Carrick confirmed the latest fitness concerns after the recent win at Stoke. Alongside Jones and Pukstas, the unavailable players are Sam Greenwood, Alex Bangura, Anfernee Dijksteel, and Rav van den Berg. Two other squad members, whose names were not disclosed, are also carrying knocks and are considered doubts.

Carrick said.

The situation comes as Middlesbrough sit second in the Championship table with 21 points from 10 games. Their recent form reads three wins and two draws from the last five, a run that includes a dramatic 3-2 victory at Stoke last weekend. Will Lankshear, the team's top scorer with eight goals this season, netted the key winner in that match.

Squad depth to be tested

With a busy schedule ahead, the injuries will force Carrick to rotate his options. The absence of Jones, in particular, is a blow to defensive plans after his summer move. Supporters can check the latest availability updates on the club's injuries page.

Despite the setbacks, the team's strong start provides a cushion. They are just two points behind leaders Swansea and have scored 20 goals already this campaign. The immediate focus shifts to preparing for Cardiff's visit to the Riverside Stadium.

Securing another three points against a side in 18th place is the clear objective to keep pace at the top. The team will then look ahead to further challenges, with the full squad list available on our squad page.

Middlesbrough host Cardiff City this Saturday, 17 October, aiming for a fourth consecutive league victory.

More detail at Football League World