‘A real positive’ – Middlesbrough land double injury boost for decisive Coventry City clash
Middlesbrough are set to have Rav van den Berg and Riley McGree back available for this weekend’s clash with Coventry City, Michael Carrick has said.
Middlesbrough have had an inconsistent and disappointing season but it all comes down o the final day. Boro have managed to cling into a chance of finishing in the play-offs and have one decisive match left to play.
Michael Carrick’s side sit two points off the top six in 9th, but they face 6th-placed Coventry City this Saturday. A win would see them overtake the Sky Blues, but victory for Blackburn Rovers and Millwall – or just one of them depending on results elsewhere – will end their faint hopes.
Nonetheless, after the season they’ve had, the Teesside outfit will be grateful to have even a slight chance of earning a play-off spot going into the final day.
And, ahead of the Coventry trip, Middlesbrough have been handed welcome boosts regarding the fitness of both Rav van den Berg and Riley McGree.
As quoted by The Northern Echo, Boro boss Carrick has confirmed both have come through training scot-free this week and are set to be in contention against the Sky Blues. He said:
“Riley and Rav have both trained with us a little bit this week.
“They’ve been back in and around the group so that’s a real positive.
“We’ve got Riley back training after seeing the specialist and he looks good. He looks fine. So, we’re hopeful [we’ve got to the bottom of his problems]. It’s obviously the end of the season now, but to have him back with the group is good for us.”
Neto Borges, who was back on the Middlesbrough bench against Norwich City, has also trained well and is set to be in the squad again.
Selection decisions for Michael Carrick
Middlesbrough boss Carrick hasn’t had the luxury of selection headaches much this season but with Neto back in the squad last week and van den Berg and McGree now back in the fray, the manager will have decisions to make.
Van den Berg is no doubt among the Boro standouts but bringing him back swiftly comes as a risk. Carrick may also be hesitant to drop one of Dael Fry or Jonny Howson given the clean sheet kept against Norwich City last time out.
As for McGree, an immediate return to the starting XI would likely impact Finn Azaz and Kelechi Iheanacho. When available, McGree has played almost exclusively on the left, so perhaps he starts with Azaz moving central and Iheanacho dropping to the bench.
Do or die for Boro
After clinging on to a chance of finishing in the play-offs over the past weeks and months, Middlesbrough will finally have their fate decided this weekend.
Regardless of the outcome, it feels likely that Carrick’s future will come under scrutiny. Though not without injury crises and other challenging circumstances, his Boro side is easily one that should be capable of finishing in the top six.
As for McGree, an immediate return to the starting XI would likely impact Finn Azaz and Kelechi Iheanacho. When available, McGree has played almost exclusively on the left, so perhaps he starts with Azaz moving central and Iheanacho dropping to the bench.
All eyes will be on this weekend’s game first though, with other matters left to be decided after the conclusion of the campaign.
