Boros Thomson well on the road to rapid return

Last updated : 24 September 2010 By Northern Echo

Thomson has been out of action since fracturing his fibula at Leicester in the middle of August and there were initial fears that he would be missing for three months.

His rapid rehabilitation has continued, however, and manager Gordon Strachan is satisfied it will not be too much longer before the £2.5m buy from Rangers returns to the first team.

Thomson will not be considered for tomorrow's trip to Watford, but he could be back on the training field with the senior squad at some stage next week if his progress continues.

Kevin trained with the Under-18s this morning, said Strachan last night. The physios like doing that, working players back to fitness with the less physical ones, rather than Thomson heading in to the tackles what he might receive from (Stephen) McManus or (David) Wheater.

I never gave him a schedule.

It's four or five weeks since it happened, my son, Gavin, took six weeks to get back, so I was kind of hoping Thomson would be back in a similar time, even though many thought it could be longer.

Thomson had only completed one match the opening day defeat to Ipswich at the Riverside Stadium of his Middlesbrough career before suffering his injury in at Leicester on August 14.

But having endured more serious injuries during his time with Rangers and Hibernian, including cruciate ligament problems, Strachan thought the Scotland international would have the right mentality to make a quick comeback.

I'm satisfied with his progress, but it doesn't surprise me, said Strachan, who has also been encouraged by Gary O'Neil's progress after fitness problems. There's a lot people can do themselves and he has done.

Thomson was disappointed with his start here, but he has the mindset to handle injuries because he has had them before.

When Thomson does return, he could face stiff competition for his place following the impressive start to life in Middlesbrough's midfield that Mickael Tavares has made.

Tavares' season-long loan to Teesside from the Bundesliga was surprising last month, but Strachan has been instantly impressed by the player's contribution.

In the three matches that the 28-year-old has played centre- midfield since his arrival Middlesbrough have defeated both Burnley and Reading since losing at QPR.

And Strachan has paid tribute to the long-term scout, who worked with him at Celtic and Coventry, for convincing him to take the French-Senegalese midfielder to the North-East.

He has the secret of passing and finding his teammates.

A lot of people can't do that, you will be surprised,

said Strachan. The more people that can pass the ball the better, if everyone can handle the ball then that makes the team better.

It's great that players can pass the ball to him and they can trust that he is not going to lose it. He is just a good player who earns respect straight away.

It wasn't me who found him, it was Ray Clarke. Ray has great knowledge of the European game. Tavares might not have been a name that sprung to too many people's minds, but that's Ray.

He can find us bodies that we didn't know about. We have had DVDs and Ray pushed it. Mickael came for a weekend here and he watched us, looked at the facilities,

Source: Northern Echo

Source: Northern Echo