Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray has revealed that Seb Hines is "not too far away" from returning to first-team action.

The defender, who underwent a knee operation in April, is expected to appear in a behind-closed-doors friendly next week.

"Seb's not too far away. He needs a game before we can consider him for the first team and we will probably arrange a match at the training ground next week," Mowbray told The Gazette.

The 25-year-old came through the club's youth academy.