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Middlesbrough have been dealt an injury blow ahead of a busy September schedule with Rudy Gestede set for a spell on the sidelines.

The 28-year-old has been a bright spark for Boro so far this season, starting four of the club's five Championship fixtures and forming a blossoming partnership with fellow forwards Britt Assombalonga and Patrick Bamford.

That form prompted an approach from Leeds before last month's transfer deadline, which was swiftly rebuffed, with Boro boss Garry Monk later stressing that the towering hitman was an 'important' member of his first-team squad.

But Monk and Boro may have to cope without Gestede for the foreseeable future, after the Benin international suffered an injury setback earlier this week.

As yet, the details of the injury have yet to be disclosed - but The Gazette understands Gestede has not trained with the first-team at Rockliffe Park all week.

And the fear is that the former Aston Villa attacker could miss months, rather than weeks. Monk is expected to reveal more information on Gestede's injury when he holds his pre-match press conference at Rockliffe Park on Thursday.

The loss of Gestede is a bitter blow for Monk ahead of a busy September, which sees Boro play seven matches inside three weeks - starting with the trip to Bolton on Saturday.

Gestede will play no part at the Macron Stadium, opening the door for either Ashley Fletcher, Stewart Downing or Adama Traore to stake their claim in the starting XI.

Boro could also be without Danish forward Martin Braithwaite at the weekend, with the former Toulouse captain still recovering from a muscular injury that has sidelined him since the opening day defeat at Wolves.

Braithwaite has resumed light training at Boro HQ, but as yet, there has been no indication whether he'll soon be fit enough to return to the first-team picture.

Boro are set to come up against a few familiar faces on Saturday, with former players David Wheater, Andrew Taylor and ex-loan winger Sammy Ameobi all expected to be named in the Trotters squad.