The 7 players set to miss Middlesbrough v Millwall on Good Friday ft Alfie Jones | OneFootball

The two promotion chasing sides face off in a huge clash at the Riverside Stadium this weekend

Easter Weekend often represents a major moment in the EFL campaign and that is no different this time around as the automatic promotion race in the Championship heats up with Middlesbrough facing Millwall at the Riverside Stadium on Good Friday.

Middlesbrough went to the top-of-the-table in mid-February, having hauled in the previous runaway leaders Coventry City but, just a month and a half later, the Sky Blues have regained their status as champions-elect, with Boro now in a scrap for second place.

Kim Hellberg’s Smoggies have won just two of their last eight matches as they sit just about in second place but just two points ahead of an Ipswich Town side that have a game-in-hand on all around them.

The impressive Alex Neil has his Millwall side positioned just behind the Tractor Boys on goal difference and an away win on Teesside could see the Lions head into Easter Monday sitting in the top two in the Championship, depending on how Ipswich fare in their clash with Birmingham City at Portman Road.

In what is a crucial encounter in North Yorkshire, we have taken a look at the absentees from the game – with that team news being potentially season-defining, let alone imperative for this game, amid news that Ryan Leonard, Casper De Norre and Alfie Doughty have all returned to training and could be involved.

It is also intriguing that Kim Hellberg has said he wants to ‘keep Millwall guessing’ over the availability of both Hayden Hackney and Morgan Whittaker, with both potentially set to play.

Alfie Jones

Centre-back Alfie Jones remains an injury concern for Middlesbrough, albeit Hellberg has said that the defender is ‘getting better’ but will not be ready to feature on Good Friday.

Darragh Lenihan

Darragh Lenihan has endured an injury tormented time as of late at the Riverside Stadium, since moving from Blackburn Rovers, and Jones’ fellow centre-back remains unavailable for the hosts.

Sam Silvera

stress fracture in his right foot a couple of months ago.

2 ? ? Millwall

Joe Bryan

A toe injury has kept left-back Joe Bryan out of the side since an FA Cup third round defeat to Burnley in early January, and he is expected to be sidelined once again.

Lukas Jensen

Having returned from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Lukas Jensen worked his way back to U21 football in December, but the Danish goalkeeper then sustained a quad injury to keep him out for a few months.

Daniel Kelly

It was confirmed in late-January by Alex Neil that a hamstring injury sustained by Daniel Kelly in December would keep the young midfielder out for the rest of this season due to injury.

Massimo Luongo

Another Australia international, this time experienced midfielder Massimo Luongo, is also out for the rest of the season. The 33-year-old suffered an ACL injury in Millwall’s 2-1 defeat of London rivals Queens Park Rangers back in mid-October.