WITH Boro enduring their first major injury crisis of the season, Tony Mowbray has told his back-up boys to grasp their big chance.

As things stand, Boro could kick off Saturday’s home clash with Derby County missing six players through injury and one due to suspension.

Those potentially missing men include Matthew Bates (foot) and Rhys Williams (pelvic strain), plus Barry Robson who is suspended. All have been key to the club’s impressive start.

Also doubtful are Merouane Zemmama (groin), Carl Ikeme (hand), Bartholomew Ogbeche (head) and Kevin Thomson, who limped out of last night’s 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest with a hamstring strain.

Mowbray will now turn to players who have been desperate for a start but have been unable to force their way into the first team.

“The squad will be tested if the injured players aren’t back by the weekend,” Mowbray told the Gazette.

“This is what you’ve got a squad for, this is what I talked about earlier in the season, the depth of the squad.

“It’s great when everybody is fit and you’re doing well but you need as many good players as you can.

“They’ve got to grasp that opportunity so that I’ve got problems when people do come back from injuries.

“It’s not all just about the results, I will assess their performances, they will have to be part of a unit, part of a team and work hard for the team and hopefully be part of a winning team.”

Those hoping for a run out will include Malaury Martin, Julio Arca, Tarmo Kink and Richie Smallwood.

The biggest injury concern is over Rhys Williams, who appears to have aggravated the pelvic complaint that sidelined him for most of last season, missing last night’s defeat.

According to Mowbray, the demands of international football could be a contributing factor.

At Boro, the Socceroo has been managed carefully and used at centre-back rather than in midfield when there’s been a glut of games.

But in two recent Australia internationals, Williams was asked to play as an attacking full-back.

“It’s an injury that has been coming for a few weeks,” said Mowbray.

“He’s had two games for Australia playing as a full-back doing all that work up and down the line. It’s a problem that he suffered with for a long time last season.

"He was unavailable to play last night, he was too sore. We need to rest him and give him some chance to play again soon.”

New signing Ogbeche suffered a head injury while playing for Boro in a development match against a strong Hartlepool XI at Rockliffe Park yesterday.

The Nigerian scored in a 2-0 win with Luke Williams grabbing the other.

Mowbray hinted that he may consider giving Ogbeche a run out at some point on Saturday if he recovers from his head injury.