Luton Town have own left-back issue for Middlesbrough clash as 'big player' rated touch-and-go

Luton Town could be heading to the Riverside with their own left-back headache with Alfie Doughty considered 'touch and go' for Middlesbrough after limping off after Wednesday evening's win over Cardiff City.

Doughty, who was described as a 'big player' by manager Rob Edwards in the summer when he signed a new contract, was instrumental in the Hatters' promotion to the Premier League two years ago. He provided seven assists and two goals and already has four assists this season too.

However, Doughty appeared to suffer an ankle injury on Wednesday evening as he made a block in stoppage time while Cardiff pushed for a late equaliser. Initially receiving treatment and hobbling off the pitch, the 24-year-old went back on to help his side see out the game, with all substitutions already made. But he didn't look comfortable and was seen hobbling off the pitch with the help of medical staff at full-time.

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Asked after about his condition, with Saturday's 12.30pm kick-off at the Riverside in mind, Edwards told Luton Today: “He’s sore around his ankle area, so we’ll have to see how it is. At the time, I was just apologising as I was saying, ‘Get him up’ as we didn’t want any more time added on.

"Then he was obviously in a bit of a bad way and soldiered on so we just put him upfront to hobble around. It wasn’t my call, I was getting ready to take him off and play five, four and just defend the last few minutes, but he came back on. It was [a concern when the stretcher came on], so we’ll see how he is now, hopefully he’s okay.

“The fact that the physio was saying no, he was all right, he was happy for him to go on, gave me a bit of confidence. And Alfie himself wanted to do it as well. The player and physio are saying it, go and do it, so we’ll see how he is [For Middlesbrough].”

Doughty only just returned to the side for the win over the Bluebirds, having missed the previous match with West Brom due to suspension. Former Chelsea star Victor Moses deputised in the wing-back role as they drew 1-1. Now 33, he was unused on Wednesday against Cardiff.

Luton's left-back headache comes as Boro have one of their own for the game. Neto Borges has been struggling with illness of late and had to be withdrawn early in the second half at QPR as a result. Luke Ayling went across to the left in that moment, while Boro have no other senior left-backs currently, with Lukas Engel and Alex Bangura both injured.

Young George McCormick was impressed in the pre-season and has been in and around the first team since, making his first senior start in the cup defeat against Stoke City. He played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday evening as Boro's U21s came from 2-0 down to beat Borussia Monchengladbach U21s 3-2 in the Premier League International Cup.