KIERON DYER claimed his first goal for Middlesbrough to help beat Championship leaders Cardiff – but could be dropped as the Teessiders chase an eighth successive win over Huddersfield Town tonight.
Former England star Dyer joined Boro in January, but at 34, is being used selectively by boss Tony Mowbray, whose play-off chasing side suffered seven losses in nine league games before beating the Welsh team on Saturday.
Having previously played for Ipswich, Newcastle and West Ham, Dyer, right, joined Boro after being released by QPR and Mowbray explained: “He’s an intelligent lad with a really good football brain.
“He’s not going to play every game for us, but he can certainly contribute, as he did against Cardiff.
“And he is a great help to the younger lads here.”
Mowbray could plump for on-loan Newcastle man Sammy Ameobi, who notched a debut goal against Cardiff, and Belgian Faris Haroun as his wide boys tonight.
Eleven-goal top scorer Scott McDonald will lead the attack, but fellow former Town loan player Lucas Jutkiewicz, who has netted 10 times this term, is out with an ankle injury.
Aussie ace McDonald grabbed two goals as Boro chalked up their seventh straight win over Town at the Riverside Stadium in November.
Argentinian Emmanuel Ledesma was the other to score in a 3-0 triumph, with Town’s last win in this fixture coming at Ayresome Park on New Year’s Day 1986, when Joey Jones sealed a 1-0 success in the original Division II.
In the middle tonight will be former Premier League referee Stuart Atwell, from Nuneaton.
He was in charge when Town lost 3-1 at Peterborough in October.
