DANIEL AYALA is set to miss Middlesbrough's trip to Leeds United after Aitor Karanka insisted he won't rush the injured defender back into action.

The 25-year-old sat out the 1-1 draw at MK Dons on Tuesday after being forced off with an ankle problem in the draw at home to Blackburn Rovers last Saturday.

Karanka is keen to press the Spanish centre-back into the fray in a bid to help stem a damaging run that has seen his side return to the top of the Championship despite going four league games without a win.

Even though Middlesbrough enjoy another week's rest following Monday's testing trip to Elland Road before they host Cardiff on February 23, the Boro boss is ready to err on the side of caution at the risk of losing such a key performer for a sustained period by rushing him back.

"Danny is not back in training at this stage," Karanka revealed of a player who has missed just two league games so far this season. "He's an important player for us and I don't want to take a risk so we'll assess him until Monday.

"We have a week after the Leeds game. I'll speak with him to see how he's feeling, and I'll speak to the doctor, but my main aim to keep that risk down. If there's even a small risk, I won't take it"

There was encouraging news on George Friend, who is set to return to training next week.

The full-back and stand-in skipper has missed the last two games after fracturing a shoulder in the 1-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest last month.

The 28-year-old is making steady progress after initial estimates suggested the influential defender would miss at least four weeks of the campaign.

Karanka revealed: "George has a scan tomorrow, and it depends on how the that is as to whether he can return to training next week."