George Edmundson Middlesbrough risk factor for Blackburn Rovers as Dael Fry waits in the wings

George Edmundson will be walking the disciplinary tightrope on Wednesday evening when Middlesbrough host Blackburn Rovers.

The centre-back, who has been in excellent form since joining Boro on loan from Ipswich Town this summer, picked up his fourth yellow card of the season as Michael Carrick's side beat Oxford United 6-2 at the Kassam Stadium. It leaves him, along with Liverpool loan star Ben Doak, just one caution away from a one-match suspension.

Doak picked up his fourth yellow card of the campaign at QPR, with the wide star negotiating Boro's last two games carefully to avoid another and a suspension that would no doubt prove impactful given his incredible impact since breaking into the Boro side. Edmundson will now join him in needing to be extra cautious.

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As well as Blackburn, the pair will have to make it through the games against Hull City on Saturday and Burnley a week on Friday, with the cut-off point in which the threshold rises to 10 yellow cards coming after 19 games are completed - which for Boro is their trip to Turf Moor.

If Edmundson were to pick up his fifth yellow of the season in any of the next three games, it would potentially offer Dael Fry a route back into the Boro side. The Teessider has returned from injury and made his first competitive appearance since February from the bench against Luton Town before the international break. He then enjoyed another match-sharpness-boosting outing for the under-21s and is now pushing to get back into Carrick's side, having been a mainstay prior to his injury.

As well as the duo on four yellows, Boro also have Finn Azaz and Hayden Hackney on three yellows. Hackney is currently out injured and remains a doubt for the Blackburn game after missing Saturday's win at Oxford. The midfielder has actually received five yellow cards this season, though two came in one game against Coventry and combined to make a red card, leaving the midfielder still at risk of an accumulation suspension as well.

Less at risk are Luke Ayling, Neto Borges and Emmanuel Latte Lath, who all have two cautions so far this season and would therefore need to be booked in the next three consecutive games to reach five yellows before the cut-off. Ayling in particular will hope to avoid that, with the game after Burnley that they'd therefore miss being Leeds United away on December 10. Aidan Morris is also on two cautions but is currently out with a knee injury and is unlikely to play in any of the next three games at least.