Norwich City U21s were without key trio Finley Welch, Ken Aboh and Pedro Lima as they were beaten 3-2 by Middlesbrough at Colney on Friday night. 

The trio, who could feature in David Wagner's matchday squad to face Sunderland at Carrow Road on Saturday, were not involved as a young City side fell to their fifth defeat in six matches in all competitions. 

Aboh was named in the Canaries squad that beat Cardiff 4-1 a fortnight ago and made the trip to the north west but wasn't involved during last weekend's draw with Blackburn. 

Welch has trained regularly with Wagner's first-team group this season and could be called upon in the wake of Onel Hernandez's season-ending foot injury. Jon Rowe remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving just Christian Fassnacht and Borja Sainz as their natural wide options. 

Lima, who played 90 minutes in their Premier League Cup defeat to Chelsea, was omitted from the side on Friday night. Norwich are set to be without midfielder Marcelino Nunez this weekend with a hip injury. 

City's youngsters were also without trio Caleb Ansen, Guilherme Montoia and Dan Ogwuru through injury. That combined with the high-profile omissions saw the Canaries side include five 17-year-olds. 

Despite early spells for possession for the Canaries, it was Boro who broke the deadlock inside the opening 15 minutes. 

A fine, flowing move from the visitors saw George Gitau tee up Pharrell Willis to sweep beyond City keeper Ellis Craven into the net for the opening goal of the evening. 

Boro doubled their advantage courtesy of in-form striker Sonny Finch. He latched onto a loose ball before firing the ball into the top corner to convert his third goal in as many matches since a return from injury. 

Norwich, as they did against Fulham earlier this month, set about launching a comeback to rescue the contest. 

Highly-rated winger Elliot Myles profited from some questionable goalkeeping from Boro's Henry Popple as his corner looped directly into the net to halve the deficit just before the interval. 

City restored parity shortly after the break, with winger Joe Duffy popping up to nod home Gabe Forsyth's free-kick into the net for his 10th goal of the campaign. That strike came moments after Finch had seen an effort come off the post. 

The game opened up thereafter as both sides chased a winner - Popple saved well to deny Forsyth at one end, whilst Craven somehow prevented Afonso Lindo from scoring at the other. 

In the end, Craven was beaten by substitute Joe Gibson who seized upon a loose ball in the net to restore the visitors advantage 14 minutes from time. 

Norwich did have the ball in the net through Myles on 84 minutes but were prevented from an equaliser by the offside flag. Boro went close to adding a fourth late on, only for Craven to produce another smart stop to halt AJ Bridge. 

The Pink Un: Young Norwich City winger Elliot Myles was on the scoresheet in Norwich City U21s 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough on Friday night.Young Norwich City winger Elliot Myles was on the scoresheet in Norwich City U21s 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough on Friday night. (Image: Mackenzie Knell)

Norwich City U21s (4-3-3): Craven; Riley, McIntosh, Wilson, Renecke; Forsyth (Watt, 72), Djedje (Eze, 60), Manning; Duffy (Coker, 88), Myles; Mundle-Smith. Subs not used: Berry (GK)

- Bookings: Djedje 33, Mundle-Smith 34

- Goals: Myles 45+2, Duffy 49

Middlesbrough U21s (4-4-2): Popple; Gitau, Hannah, Lindo, Samuels; Bridge, McCormick, Traore, Willis (Gibson, 75); Finch (Howells, 77), Nkrumah (Matthews, 65). Subs not used: Metcalfe (GK), Whelan

- Bookings: Lindo 6, Traore 57

- Goals: Willis 14, Finch 23, Gibson 76