Flood was a product of the academy at Manchester City

Middlesbrough midfielder Willo Flood is likely to miss the remainder of the season after tearing a posterior cruciate ligament.

Flood, 24, missed Saturday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United and manager Gordon Strachan admitted the Irishman's absence is a blow to his squad.

"It's a real shame as he's been fantastic for us since he came here," Strachan told the club website.

The former Celtic midfielder joined Boro on a free transfer in January.

Meanwhile Strachan was disappointed his side missed out on a morale-boosting win against Newcastle on Saturday.

Victory would have left them just two points adrift of the play-off places.

"It's just out of reach at the moment," Strachan told BBC Tees.

"But if you look at the Cardiff and Nottingham Forest game and this game, three teams in the top six, at no point could you say that they looked better than us.

"I'm hugely disappointed for the players and the fans. Two minutes of naivity have cost us."

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