Middlesbrough's star man could miss Cardiff City clash after 'unacceptable' incident -
By Tom Coleman
Tuesday 17th October 2017
Middlesbrough boss Garry Monk is facing a big decision over whether to recall winger Adama Traore for the visit of Cardiff City on Saturday.
The 21-year-old was sensationally dropped from the Boro squad for the trip to Barnsley at the weekend after turning up late for the bus to the team's hotel.
The incident is understood to have enraged the former Swansea City boss, who swiftly cut Traore out of his matchday squad. A fine is expected to follow.
It remains to be seen whether the former Aston Villa man will make a return to the squad for the visit of Cardiff on Saturday, but Monk did not hold back in his criticism of the Spaniard's behaviour after his side's 2-2 draw in South Yorkshire.
He told the Northern Echo : "In terms of Adama, he was late for the bus, and you can’t be late for the bus.
“We don’t accept that. That’s why he wasn’t in the squad. Those are the rules that every player and everyone has to abide by. We were travelling, he missed the time, and that’s why he missed the trip.
“Like always, we deal with everything in house, but there are certain rules that the group have to follow. We’re very focused on them. They’re very important to us as a group, and the standards that we set, and if you don’t come up to those standards then you’re not involved in certain situations.
“Adama missed the bus and that’s why he wasn’t here. We’ll keep everything else in house, get back to work, and focus on the next game.”
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock is likely to be hoping that Traore doesn't play, as despite his disciplinary issues he is still a potential match-winner for the Teeside outfit.
The full details of his offence last weekend are still unknown, meaning there are plenty of question marks over whether he will make an appearance on Saturday, and indeed whether he has a long-term future at the club.
It's hardly the ideal preparation for a contest against one of the Championship's early pacesetters. Then again, history suggests this will still be a tough task for Cardiff.
The Bluebirds have lost four of their last five trips to the Riverside, although Warnock will be nevertheless be demanding a reaction from his players following the disappointing defeat to Birmingham City on Friday night.
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