Who will fill the Middlesbrough void left by Rudy Gestede? That's the starting point for the second Tripe Supper of a busy week as we look ahead to Saturday's third and final Wear-Tees showdown of the season. Boro have won both of their previous meetings against Sunderland this term in both the Championship and the FA Cup, but Tony Pulis' preparations were dealt a blow this week following Gestede's gutting diagnosis. An X-ray confirmed that the forward has fractured his ankle and will play no further part in Boro's promotion quest, a blow for a player who trebled his league account with an impressive two-goal haul against Hull on Tuesday evening. But with Gestede sidelined, Boro must now turn to others in the squad to score the goals to sustain a top-six tilt over the next 13 games. Will it be £15m striker Britt Assombalonga, Boro's record signing who has dropped down the pecking order since Pulis' appointment, who is given a chance to stake his claim at the Stadium of Light? Or could Patrick Bamford, a player who has yearned for a central role since re-signing for the club more than a year ago, who could be given the nod on Wearside? Dominic Shaw is joined by Jonathon Taylor and season ticket holder Chris Garbutt to discuss Gestede's injury, the battle to replace him and Saturday's game at Sunderland.
Who will fill the Middlesbrough void left by Rudy Gestede?
That's the starting point for the second Tripe Supper of a busy week as we look ahead to Saturday's third and final Wear-Tees showdown of the season.
Boro have won both of their previous meetings against Sunderland this term in both the Championship and the FA Cup, but Tony Pulis' preparations were dealt a blow this week following Gestede's gutting diagnosis.
An X-ray confirmed that the forward has fractured his ankle and will play no further part in Boro's promotion quest, a blow for a player who trebled his league account with an impressive two-goal haul against Hull on Tuesday evening.
But with Gestede sidelined, Boro must now turn to others in the squad to score the goals to sustain a top-six tilt over the next 13 games.
Will it be £15m striker Britt Assombalonga, Boro's record signing who has dropped down the pecking order since Pulis' appointment, who is given a chance to stake his claim at the Stadium of Light?
Or could Patrick Bamford, a player who has yearned for a central role since re-signing for the club more than a year ago, who could be given the nod on Wearside?
Dominic Shaw is joined by Jonathon Taylor and season ticket holder Chris Garbutt to discuss Gestede's injury, the battle to replace him and Saturday's game at Sunderland.