MIDDLESBROUGH right-back Damia Abella faces six months on the sidelines after snapping his anterior cruciate ligament during Tuesday night’s win at Cardiff City.

The Northern Echo:

Abella was forced off in the 64th minute and Boro head coach Aitor Karanka this afternoon confirmed initial fears that the Spaniard had suffered a serious knee injury.

The 32-year-old, who will undergo surgery on the injury soon, arrived at the Riverside Stadium on a free transfer over the summer and has made an impressive start to his career on Teesside.

However, the former Osasuna defender now faces a lengthy spell out while he recovers.

“It is his ACL,” Karanka confirmed. “We thought at the game it was a serious injury.

“Normally this kind of injury is six months. I suffered it when I was a player and it was six months.

“He is an experienced player and he is obviously not happy, but he was better than all of us and was the first to understand his injury.

“He’s a very good lad. He will have an operation and then rehab and we’ll hopefully have him back as soon as possible.

“He is the kind of players I want in my squad always. He is a good lad and the kind of professional that works hard whether he is playing or not.”

Karanka also confirmed on loan Tottenham youngster Ryan Fredericks will take Abella’s place in the team when Brentford visit the Riverside on Saturday.

Daniel Ayala is also out, but James Husband and Tomas Mejias should be available.