MIDDLESBOUGH have completed the loan signing of Tomas Kalas – and the Chelsea full-back could go straight into the starting line-up for tomorrow’s game at Reading.

Kalas, who has made two senior appearances for Chelsea, has been training with Boro’s first-team squad this week after completing a previous loan deal with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem.

The 21-year-old will provide some much-needed right-back cover for injured trio Damia Abella, Ryan Fredericks and Rhys Williams, as well as Emilio Nsue, who could be absent for more than a month as he represents Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Dean Whitehead slotted in at right-back after Williams was injured in the early stages of last weekend’s FA Cup win at Barnsley, but Kalas could be parachuted straight into the starting line-up at the Madejski Stadium tomorrow, enabling Whitehead to partner Grant Leadbitter at the base of midfield.