John Mikel Obi was handed the Middlesbrough captaincy armband and he got one over his international teammate Oghenekaro Etebo as Boro beat Stoke City 1-0 in their Championship clash at the Riverside Stadium on Friday, Completesports.com reports.
Britt Assombalonga scored the decisive goal for Middlesbrough in the second minute of the encounter.
Both Mikel and Etebo were in action for their respective clubs for the entire duration of the game.
Etebo chases after Mikel in the thick of Middlesbrough’s vs Stoke City midfield tussle
Etebo has scored two goals in 31 Championship games for Stoke City since linking up with the Potters last summer from Portuguese club CD Feirense.
Mikel on the other hand is yet to register a goal in 15 appearances for Boro.
The win boost Boro’s chances of picking a play-off spot at the end of the season.
At the Liberty Stadium, Semi Ajayi played for 57th minutes in Rotherham United’s 4-3 away loss to Swansea City.
Ajayi who picked up a yellow card in the 13th minute was replaced by Richard Towell.
The Championship player of the month has racked up 43 appearances for the Millers and scored seven goals.
Efe Ambrose was overlooked again as Derby County held their hosts Birmingham City to a 2-2 draw.
Ambrose is yet to make a single appearance for the Rams since joining them on a short term deal earlier in the year.
By Adeboye Amosu
COMMENTS
I still can’t believed it. Mikel is not fully fit and he is playing 90 minutes of football at his club side. Hmmm, what is going on here?
Who is deceiving Nigerians between Mikel and coach Rohr, well I don’t know.
But coach Rohr, we are watching you very closely. God bless Nigeria!!!
Lol..
Very closely…
Mikel, I think, is preserving his legs for the Africa Cup of Nations knowing fully well he will be invited and be expected to be involved.
Mikel is nursing some minor knocks; coming to be involved in dead rubber qualifiers will only make this worse so he kept away.
His experience in the middle of the park will be pivotal for the Eagles in Egypt.
No you are the one deceiving yourself. Go and bring him to play by force? olodo oshi
Mikel is a true leader.
Unless the Northern kidnappers leave Mikel’s father alone, he will never play for Nigeria again.
The last time they kidnapped Mikel’s father , he paid millions of Naira to free his own father from the yoke of the rubbers. He then said that he has had enough of these.
Here is Nigeria afcon formation
If rohr will keep is job after the turnament!
Ezenwa
Aino ekong balogun collins
Ndidi mikel
Iwobi
Kalu musa
Ighalo
Lol. Well, fingers crossed. God bless Nigeria!!!