Darragh Lenihan and Chuba Akpom are both back in training and in contention for Middlesbrough for Saturday's trip to Coventry City, with Zack Steffen stepping up his training lately too.

The trio have been out injured in recent weeks, though goalkeeper Steffen did make his return to action in Boro's last outing as he kept a clean sheet in the draw with Rotherham United. But with the last fortnight seeing international football take precedence, back home on Teesside, Boro have been privately going about their business and preparing for the trip to Coventry City.

And included within those preparations have been Lenihan, Akpom and Steffen, who have all been back in training with the group after absences from the team that have been felt during a disappointing run that sees Boro sitting third bottom of the Championship.

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Asked for an injury update, Wilder said: “All been back on the grass and working this week so there is a decision to be made over the weekend. Zack getting minutes on the grass is huge. They are big players for us, all three of them. To lose two/three of your starters from that Sheffield United game has been quite a big dint for us.

“Chuba has become a big player for us. Something that has not been said to him before is ‘welcome back’ or ‘glad to have you back’. Maybe he’s not had that in his career before, and there is a little smile on his face. He’s trained well so I'm positive about him being involved.

“Zack has had a stop-start first part of his career at Middlesbrough. Being out injured and getting himself back, playing against Rotherham. He’s a good couple of weeks of conditioning work to sharpen him up. Hopefully he does what we believe he can do and be the best goalkeeper in the division."

All three will add to Wilder's options for the trip to Coventry City's CBS Arena this weekend as Wilder and Boro look to turn around their disappointing start to the campaign and start climbing the Championship table.

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