Middlesbrough completed a late move for Ipswich Town defender George Edmundson last month.
Boro began the 2024 summer transfer window with the arrival of a new striker as their main priority.
After signing Tommy Conway from Bristol City ahead of their meeting with Derby County, Middlesbrough’s transfer business for the window appeared to be all but over.
However, Michael Carrick has been forced to deal with another major injury crisis for the second season in a row.
Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan missed most of 2023/24 with problems and after the pair picked up fresh knocks in pre-season, they are still yet to return to the pitch in the current campaign.
Then, after Rav van den Berg suffered an injury toward the end of the loss to Derby last month, the Teessiders were down to just one senior centre-back option.
In turn, Boro made a late push to sign some much-needed cover at the back in the final week of the transfer window.
Middlesbrough left it late but eventually agreed a six-month loan deal with Premier League outfit Ipswich Town for George Edmundson.
George Edmundson names his Middlesbrough best friend
While it is only a short-term deal, there is already talk from the likes of Kieran Scott that Edmundson could have a long-term future at Middlesbrough.
Owing to the international break, the stopper is yet to properly link up with a number of his new teammates as they have been away on international duty.
However, there has still been plenty of fresh faces for Edmundson to get to know at Rockliffe Park this week and, as per the Northern Echo, he has already revealed his new best friend at Boro.
He said: “It’s been great so far. I’m staying in the hotel with Neto at the moment so I’ve quickly became best friends with him, practising my Brazilian dancing!
“The lads have all been brilliant with me. I know Clarkey from previous clubs and he’s a top lad and top professional. He’s took me under his wing a bit so far.”
Neto Borges and George Edmundson could start together vs Preston North End
Neto Borges made his Middlesbrough debut just four days after signing, being thrown straight into the eleven for their Championship fixture against Cardiff City on August 31st.
The late nature of Edmundson’s move means he was unable to travel to Wales for that match but he is expected to be in the squad this weekend.
Middlesbrough host Preston North End in a Championship clash at 3pm on Saturday, September 14th.
Carrick has already been told why Edmundson should thrive against Preston’s strikers at the weekend.
And with the fitness of Van den Berg still up in the air, the Ipswich man could come into the eleven alongside Matt Clarke on Saturday, which will allow Luke Ayling to revert back into his more natural right-back role.
Borges is also once again expected to be in from the off at left-back due to Lukas Engel’s struggles early in the campaign.