Middlesbrough have confirmed defender Emanuel Pogatetz will be out for six weeks after having surgery on a fractured cheekbone.

The 26-year-old picked up the injury in Boro's 1-0 defeat at the hands of Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, which was the Austrian's first start of the season.

Pogatetz was stretchered off just after 45 minutes following a clash with Argyle defender Shane Lowry at the Riverside, in Gordon Strachan's first game as manager, and he might wear a face mask during his recovery.

A statement on the club's official website said: "The normal recovery time is six weeks though he may be able to play sooner subject to medical clearance allowing him to wear a face mask."

Boro currently lie seventh in the Championship table, and Pogatetz will now miss a number of league games, with the Teessiders travelling to Crystal Palace on Saturday.