Middlesbrough’s remarkable start to the 2025-26 Championship season faces a stern test this weekend as they travel to Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth, but the league leaders will be without key defender George Edmundson, who is sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury just minutes into their recent goalless draw with Stoke City. The injury, which struck early in Tuesday’s match, is expected to keep the 28-year-old centre-back out for up to six weeks, casting a shadow over Boro’s preparations for a crucial fixture.
Head coach Rob Edwards confirmed the setback, saying, “It looks like it could be around five to six weeks for George.” Edmundson’s absence is a significant blow for Middlesbrough, who have relied on his defensive solidity throughout their impressive eight-game unbeaten run to open the season. The defender had started the last three matches, having previously been an unused substitute for four games, and now faces a race against time to return before the next international break in November.
This injury is especially poignant given Edmundson’s history with Portsmouth. The Fratton Park faithful will remember the defender’s name—he was once the subject of a £600,000 transfer bid from the club back in 2019 and again drew interest during Danny Cowley’s tenure. Ultimately, Edmundson joined Middlesbrough permanently from Ipswich Town in January 2025 after a loan spell, with the transfer fee again reportedly in the region of £600,000. Now, as Boro prepare to take on Portsmouth, Edmundson’s absence will be keenly felt by his teammates and coaches alike.
Despite the defensive blow, Middlesbrough’s spirits remain high. The club sits proudly atop the Championship table, one of just two sides to remain undefeated after eight matches, with five wins and three draws under their belt. Their latest challenge comes in the form of an away trip to Portsmouth, a side struggling for form and without a win in their last four league games. Yet, Rob Edwards is not underestimating the threat posed by John Mousinho’s team.
“They’re a really challenging team to play against, especially at home. Their fans are a really good set of fans, they’re boisterous and they make that place quite intimidating at times. We’ve got to be ready for that. We don’t want to give them any oxygen to go out and enjoy it. We’ve got to make sure we play our game and do it well,” Edwards told The Northern Echo, emphasizing the respect he has for his opposite number. “John’s a really good coach. He’s won a league title, they’re batting above their average, they’ve got some really good players and they play them well. They’re a really difficult team to play against. We respect them and it’ll be another big challenge for us away from home, but it’s one we’re looking forward to. We’ve prepared well and we’ve got a good plan, and we’ve got a good group of players who are motivated to go and keep this run going.”
Edwards, however, remains adamant that the squad is not focusing on their unbeaten streak. “We’re not talking about it. It’s just the next game and we want to go and win the next game, and that’s it. We’re not focusing on keeping the run going, we’re just looking at it as an opportunity to get another three points. That’s all we can focus on really. We do that by working extremely hard and trying to carry out our jobs as best as possible. That’s the how. What we want to try and achieve tomorrow is a win, and that’s it,” he explained. “We’ve done some decent things so far, but if you start to think, ‘this is easy, we can just turn up’, it doesn’t work like that. We have to keep our focus, keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard.”
One player who embodies this ethos is Sammy Silvera. The Australian winger’s journey has been anything but straightforward. Just a year ago, Silvera found himself on loan at Portsmouth, struggling to win over the Fratton Park crowd. He made 12 appearances, half of which were from the bench, before returning to Middlesbrough in January 2025 after being jeered by his own supporters. A subsequent loan to Blackpool in League One saw him make just three starts and 12 substitute appearances, further denting his confidence.
Yet, Silvera’s fortunes have changed dramatically under Rob Edwards, who replaced Michael Carrick as head coach in 2025. Edwards was immediately won over by Silvera’s attitude and versatility. “He’s got a brilliant attitude. He’s a brilliant human being, and we all love Sammy to bits,” Edwards said. “What I like about Sammy is that he’s flexible. He’s come on at right-back the other night [against Stoke] after two or three minutes. That’s not easy to do. I was a right-back or centre-half by trade, and I would have found that hard. But he just came on, did it and helped us keep a clean sheet.”
Silvera’s transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed by his former boss, John Mousinho, either. “We always knew Sammy was a really good player, that’s why we brought him in here,” said Mousinho ahead of today’s game. “For whatever reason, things didn’t quite work out, but Sammy was sat here last year in a side that hadn’t won a game. He probably didn’t have the best platform to necessarily perform. I’m sure he would’ve wanted to do a bit better here, but ultimately, we didn’t have a very good first half of the season and Sammy suffered for that as well.”
Silvera’s story is a testament to resilience—a theme not uncommon in football. As Edwards pointed out, “Sometimes, an experience like that can help you. There’s no guarantee that you get a move and it’s just going to work out. You hope it does. But you can always try to take something from any kind of situation, whether it be good or bad, whether you’re playing loads of games or you’re not. For Sammy, it was just experience. I’ve had it too. We can put it all into our own lives, can’t we? You lose games of football and it’s tough. The tough times don’t last, but neither do the good times either. Life just carries on and you find a way and get through it, and that’s what Sammy’s had to do. At the moment, he’s in a great spot where he’s really happy, he’s smiling and he’s a big part of the group. We love him.”
As Middlesbrough prepare for their trip to Portsmouth, the squad will be buoyed by the confidence instilled by their head coach and the resilience shown by players like Silvera. Even with the setback of losing Edmundson, Boro’s focus remains unwavering—three points at Fratton Park is the only goal in mind. The action is set to unfold, with the league leaders aiming to extend their unbeaten streak and solidify their position at the Championship summit.
With the match against Portsmouth looming, all eyes will be on how Middlesbrough copes with adversity and whether their blend of grit, talent, and unity can see them through another tough test on the road. The unbeaten run continues—for now, at least.
