KEVIN Thomson returned from injury this afternoon as Middlesbrough reserves beat Rotherham 3-0 to extend their lead at the top of Central League East.

Thomson played for just over an hour to push his claims for a recall to the first-team squad for this weekend's Championship game with Brighton.

The Scotland international was part of a strong second-string line-up that also featured first-teamers Seb Hines and Tarmo Kink. Ben Gibson and Cameron Park returned to the fold after loan spells at Plymouth and Barnsley respectively.

Curtis Main opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half, with Park and Ryan Brobbel finding the target after the interval.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Ripley, Atkinson, Weldon, Gibson, Hines (Pilatos 71), Thomson (Dolan 62), Brobbel, Smallwood, Main, Park, Kink (Fowler 71).