Michael Carrick has provided a Middlesbrough injury update ahead of their clash with Sunderland.
Boro have one of the largest squads in the Championship this season after nine new first-team players arrived over the summer.
Michael Carrick has a plethora of quality options in each position but Middlesbrough’s ongoing injury crisis has left the club stretched in several areas during their opening five Championship fixtures.
There were 10 players missing when Middlesbrough drew 2-2 with Portsmouth at the Riverside Stadium last month.
Several names, including Riley McGree, have now returned to training but there were still a number of absentees for the 1-1 draw with Preston North End last time out.
Dael Fry and Darragh Leninhan have been injured since pre-season, while Rav van den Berg has been out since the 1-0 defeat to Derby County.
Elsewhere, Tommy Smith and Alex Bangura are long-term absentees, while another forgotten Middlesbrough man, Marcus Forss, has been spotted in training this week.
Michael Carrick provides Rav van den Berg injury update
Now, speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon, Carrick has provided a fresh Middlesbrough injury update.
As already mentioned, Van den Berg has been sidelined since the second game of the season with an issue.
But in his pre-Sunderland press conference on Boro’s YouTube channel, Carrick has provided a fresh update on the Dutchman, stating that both he and Jonny Howson are a ‘little bit’ closer to returning.
He said: “Johnny and Rav are a little bit closer but whether that be close enough again [to feature vs Sunderland] is a bit of a push but we’ll wait and see.
“Other than that, it’s as is.”
Who will Middlesbrough start at centre-back vs Sunderland
With Van den Berg’s involvement still up in the air ahead of the weekend, Carrick has another major decision to make over who starts alongside Matt Clarke at centre-back.
Deadline day addition Geroge Edmundson joined the Teessiders on loan from Ipswich Town and made his debut last weekend against Preston.
The stopper performed well against the Lilywhites and could be in line to start again this game week if Van den Berg misses out.
Alternatively, academy prospects Harley Hunt and George McCormick are potential options, though Carrick may not want to risk them in such a big game.
Luke Ayling could also fill in alongside Clarke, as he has done previously this season, which would allow Anfernee Dijskteel to come back into the eleven at right-back.