Joseph Okumu dropped again as Middlesbrough's slump deepens

Pulse Sports reports that Okumu has been omitted from Middlesbrough's starting eleven for a second straight fixture as the club struggles to find any rhythm. The outlet frames it as part of a wider slump at Middlesbrough, though the exact run of results and league position were not detailed in the report.

For Harambee Stars, minutes matter. Any Kenyan international playing regular Championship football is a data point for the national team's coaching staff, and a stretch on the bench changes that picture quickly. Okumu has featured for Kenya before, so losing his starting role at club level is the kind of thing that shows up at the next camp, whether in conversation about fitness or simply in who gets picked.

Pulse Sports reports that Middlesbrough have spent heavily in the transfer market, and a player dropping down the pecking order on team selection is one more small sign of a season that is not going to plan at the Riverside. Until more is confirmed on dates and the actual table position, that is where the story stands.