Sports247.ng has learnt that Middlesbrough of England new signing, John Mikel Obi was rested from the club’s English FA Cup replay against Newport County on Tuesday, in order to keep the January arrival fresh for this weekend’s English Championship clash with Leeds United.
Middlesbrough are still in the hunt for a promotion play-off spot in England’s second-tier division, and coach of the side, Tony Pulis felt he would need the experience of Mikel against table-topping Leeds.
With Mikel holding a long history of fitness issues, which rocked him mostly last year during his days with Tianjin Teda of China, Pulis has opted for regulated playing time to keep the Super Eagles captain fresh for crucial games, of which he believes the Championship is a priority.
Pulis’ tinkering appeared to backfire on Tuesday, as Boro fell 2-0 away to Newport and were sent packing from the FA Cup in Mikel’s absence, but the coach has quickly turned his focus on Saturday’s visit by Leeds.
In Mikel’s absence, In heavy rain at Rodney Parade, Robbie Willmott opened the scoring for Newport with a long-range strike that Boro goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos should have kept out.
There was nothing the 40-year-old Greek could do about the clincher as a right-wing corner routine produced a stunning second Newport goal.
Willmott’s low delivery fooled the Boro defence and Padraig Amond met the ball with a superb first-time finish that sent the ball spinning into the top corner for his fourth FA Cup goal of the season.
Newport will be remembered for taking Tottenham Hotspur into a fourth-round replay last season; and Michael Flynn’s side now have a date with Manchester City to look forward to later this month.
