Mikel's absence is the elephant in the Super Eagles' room
Nigeria's captain has not been involved with the Super Eagles since the World Cup in Russia. But the team does not appear to have missed its leader.
2018 Schedule
All times ET
MiddlesbroughMID027/47:00 AM
0REAREA
FORFOR3FT0MiddlesbroughMID- MiddlesbroughMID1FT
0STKSTK - MiddlesbroughMID1FT
0HULHUL 
BOLBOL0FT2MiddlesbroughMID
SWASWA3FT1MiddlesbroughMID- MiddlesbroughMID0FT
1BRCBRC - MiddlesbroughMID0FT
1NORNOR 
AVLAVL3FT0MiddlesbroughMID- MiddlesbroughMID1FT
2PNEPNE - MiddlesbroughMID1FT
2BRNBRN 
WGAWGA0FT0MiddlesbroughMID- MiddlesbroughMID2FT
0QPRQPR 
BLKBLK0FT1MiddlesbroughMID
SHFUSHFU1FT0MiddlesbroughMID- MiddlesbroughMID1FT
1LEELEE 
NEWNEW2FT0MiddlesbroughMID
WBAWBA2FT3MiddlesbroughMID- MiddlesbroughMID1FT1NEWNEW
- MiddlesbroughMID1FT
1MILMIL 
BIRBIR1FT2MiddlesbroughMID- MiddlesbroughMID5FT
0PETPET 
DERDER1FT1MiddlesbroughMID- MiddlesbroughMID2FT
0IPSIPS - MiddlesbroughMID0FT
1SHFWSHFW - REAREA0FT1MiddlesbroughMID
2018 Schedule
18-13-13, 7th in English League Championship
- REAREA022/12FT
1MiddlesbroughMID - MiddlesbroughMID026/12FT1SHFWSHFW
- MiddlesbroughMID229/12FT0IPSIPS
- DERDER11/1FT1MiddlesbroughMID
- MiddlesbroughMID55/1FT0PETPET
- BIRBIR112/1FT2MiddlesbroughMID
- MiddlesbroughMID119/1FT1MILMIL
- MiddlesbroughMID126/1FT1NEWNEW
- WBAWBA22/2FT3MiddlesbroughMID
- NEWNEW25/2FT0MiddlesbroughMID
- MiddlesbroughMID19/2FT1LEELEE
- SHFUSHFU113/2FT0MiddlesbroughMID
- BLKBLK017/2FT1MiddlesbroughMID
- MiddlesbroughMID223/2FT0QPRQPR
- WGAWGA02/3FT0MiddlesbroughMID
- MiddlesbroughMID19/3FT2BRNBRN
- MiddlesbroughMID113/3FT2PNEPNE
- AVLAVL316/3FT0MiddlesbroughMID
- MiddlesbroughMID030/3FT1NORNOR
- MiddlesbroughMID02/4FT1BRCBRC
- SWASWA36/4FT1MiddlesbroughMID
- BOLBOL09/4FT2MiddlesbroughMID
- MiddlesbroughMID113/4FT0HULHUL
- MiddlesbroughMID119/4FT0STKSTK
- FORFOR322/4FT0MiddlesbroughMID
- MiddlesbroughMID027/4h:mm a z, US/Eastern0REAREA
Middlesbrough sign Mikel on short-term deal
Middlesbrough have signed former Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel on a short-term deal as they chase promotion to the Premier League.
Boro to field youngest and oldest ever players
Middlesbrough are poised to field both the club's youngest and oldest ever players alongside each other this weekend.
Leeds march on with Rotherham victory
Leeds United's revolution under Marcelo Bielsa continued on Saturday as they maintained their perfect start to the season in the Championship.
Wolves complete move for Boro's Traore
Traore, 22, spent the last two seasons at the Riverside Stadium, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists last season.
Burnley sign Middlesbrough centre-back Gibson
Burnley have completed their first signing of the transfer window, bringing in defender Ben Gibson from Middlesbrough.
Aston Villa hold off Boro to reach Wembley
Villa will face Fulham in the final at Wembley on May 26 as they look to end a two-year Premier League exile.
Jedinak puts Villa in driving seat vs. Boro
Mile Jedinak headed Aston Villa a step closer to the Premier League as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in the first leg of the Championship playoff.
2018-19 LC Table
| TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich City | 44 | 25 | 13 | 6 | +34 | 88 |
| Sheffield United | 44 | 25 | 10 | 9 | +35 | 85 |
| Leeds United | 44 | 25 | 7 | 12 | +24 | 82 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 44 | 22 | 11 | 11 | +26 | 77 |
| Aston Villa | 44 | 20 | 15 | 9 | +22 | 75 |
| Derby County | 43 | 18 | 13 | 12 | +11 | 67 |
| Middlesbrough | 44 | 18 | 13 | 13 | +6 | 67 |
| Bristol City | 43 | 18 | 12 | 13 | +7 | 66 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 44 | 16 | 15 | 13 | -1 | 63 |
| Swansea City | 43 | 18 | 8 | 17 | +3 | 62 |
| Nottingham Forest | 44 | 15 | 15 | 14 | +5 | 60 |
| Preston North End | 44 | 16 | 12 | 16 | +3 | 60 |
| Hull City | 44 | 17 | 9 | 18 | -2 | 60 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 44 | 16 | 11 | 17 | -4 | 59 |
| Brentford | 44 | 15 | 13 | 16 | +10 | 58 |
| Stoke City | 44 | 11 | 20 | 13 | -7 | 53 |
| Birmingham City | 44 | 14 | 17 | 13 | +6 | 50 |
| Wigan Athletic | 44 | 12 | 12 | 20 | -14 | 48 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 44 | 13 | 9 | 22 | -18 | 48 |
| Reading | 44 | 10 | 16 | 18 | -16 | 46 |
| Millwall | 43 | 10 | 13 | 20 | -14 | 43 |
| Rotherham United | 44 | 8 | 16 | 20 | -29 | 40 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 44 | 8 | 8 | 28 | -47 | 32 |
| Ipswich Town | 44 | 4 | 16 | 24 | -40 | 28 |
2018-19 Team LeadersEnglish League Championship
- Goals
- Assists
RankingsEnglish League Championship
Goal Difference6Tied-9th
Goals Scored4521st
Assists2722nd
Goals Conceded39Tied-1st