Jonathan Woodgate: 'I'm not injured'

Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate has insisted that he is fit enough to play a part in the team's promotion push.

The 35-year-old was forced to miss Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth with a broken toe, but he remains eager for first-team action at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro are currently in third place in the Championship table, level on points with second-placed Watford.

"I keep reading in the papers that I'm injured, but I'm not," Woodgate told the club's official website. "I have a broken toe, but I can play with that. I trained on Tuesday morning and while it's painful, it's not keeping me out.

"I want to play a part in what could be a great end to this season. The lads were a bit down after what happened at Bournemouth, but on the day we were beaten by a very good team. Decisions didn't go for us and we know we are better than what we showed that day."

Middlesbrough continue their campaign on Friday when they entertain Wigan Athletic.