Middlesbrough will go into the summer with decisions to be made over the futures of a number of payers.
Several individuals are set to see their contracts at The Riverside Stadium expire at the end of this season.
It therefore remains to be seen whether or not they will be extending their stays with the club beyond that point.
One such player who finds himself in that position, is Paddy McNair. The defender joinged Middlesbrough back in the summer of 2018. As a result, he is now one of the club’s longest-serving senior players.
But with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, there are questions over the 28-year-old’s future.
Judging by the latest comments from Michael Carrick however, those will not be answered any time soon.
Michael Carrick speaks on Paddy McNair future
So far this season, McNair has had something of a reduced role for Middlesbrough.
The defender has featured in just 17 of the 33 Championship games they have played during the current campaign.
Now, it also seems that Carrick is in no rush to make a decision over the future of the defender.
When asked about the possibility of a new contract for McNair, the Middlesbrough boss told Teesside Live:
“There’s not really a deadline or a specific time, it kind of over time it naturally gets done. There’s not a contract on it. I’m not going to say right now and make a decision right now when I haven’t had discussions with players.
“This isn’t just about Paddy, it’s about any player. There are all sorts of different scenarios, if, buts and maybes. That’s a decision for us to make in the weeks and months ahead. Right now it doesn’t really make any difference [what division Boro will be in next season].
“The boys are focused on the next game and there are all sorts of decisions on who is going to be here, who stays, who doesn’t stay, that’s natural in every club throughout the land. It’s not a big deal, it’s about what games are coming up.”
Carrick’s side are next in action on Saturday afternoon. They travel to the Bet365 Stadium to take on struggling Stoke City.
Middlesbrough must do right by Paddy McNair
Right now, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if McNair did leave Middlesbrough at the end of the season.
The defender is not a regular feature for Carrick’s team, and these comments do not suggest a desperation to extend his deal.
That may suggest that ‘Boro are preparing for life without the 28-year-old one way or another.
Given the service he has given to Middlesbrough over the last six years, fans will no doubt be sad to see him go.
However, it could be argued that this is the right thing for the club to do for McNair himself.
At 28 years old, McNair is at the peak stage of his career, where he is going to want to be playing as much football as possible.
Right now, it appears unlikely he is going to get that if he remains at The Riverside Stadium.
As a result, it could be better for him if he is allowed to leave, to join another club where he can play on a more regular basis.
Indeed, his experience and ability at this level means it is unlikely he would be short of offers either.
But in doing that, Middlesbrough will still have to be sure that they are not leaving themselves too short on options in their own defence.