Tony Mowbray is hoping the international break will give Middlesbrough forward Muzzy Carayol a chance to overcome his knee injury.
The former Bristol Rovers man missed Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Millwall after sustaining the problem in the midweek Capital One Cup victory at Gillingham and was conspicuous by his absence.
Mowbray told the club's official website: "Carayol was a big miss for us. He has shown what he can bring to our team.
"He has hyper-extended his knee, but fingers crossed he will be okay in a few weeks' time.
"He brings a different dimension to the team, which is why he is here. He is still a young boy and we have to put it into context.
"He has come from the second division and we shouldn't be hanging our hat on him, but I do think he can bring us something we have been missing."
