Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has explained that he is yet to decide whether Jordan Rhodes will start against Leeds United in a Championship fixture on Monday.
The striker, who joined Boro from Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day for £9m, is yet to start a game for his new employers.
However, Rhodes showed his worth after he came off the bench to score a last-gasp equaliser in the 1-1 draw with MK Dons on Tuesday.
But Karanka, whose side are currently one point clear at the top of the Championship table, insisted that he will decide about Rhodes’ involvement at Elland Road only after he analyses Leeds.
“I have six days to think”, he was quoted as saying by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
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“I don’t know now because I have to analyse the game and analyse the opponent and it’s too early to say if he is going to play or not.
“Everybody who is coming here, all of them know they are coming to a really, really good changing room with a really good atmosphere and the foundations are respect for all the team.”
Rhodes, who scored 11 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions for Blackburn in the present campaign, has thus far made two appearances for Middlesbrough, both as a substitute.
The Scottish international’s present employers defeated Leeds 3-0 in the corresponding fixture at the Riverside Stadium in September.
