Michael Carrick gave an update on the key Middlesbrough players who are missing through injury, but was more coy on the detail, with the October Manager of the Month contender unable to give specifics on exact time frames that they could be out.
During his scheduled pre-Leicester City press conference on the club’s website, the Middlesbrough head coach was asked about any changes or progress on the current availability of those who have been injured. A wry smile, and a gentle shake of the head was followed with a verdict of, “It’s pretty much the same to be honest at this stage.”
He continued, “Yeah, as time goes, as the weeks pass, hopefully the lads will get closer, but at this stage, we are what we are.”
No specific time frame for return
With Lewis O’Brien, Tommy Smith and Sonny Finch all long term absences, the question referred to the situation that surrounds play-maker Riley McGree, attacking midfielder Marcus Forss and influential leader and centre-back Darragh Lenihan.
It would be unfair to say that the injuries to Forss, McGree and Lenihan have been shrouded in mystery, but there has been very little information on their progress with the nature of the injuries being blamed for the lack of attributing any specific time span for their return.
Forss has had a thigh problem, McGree has an issue with his foot and Lenihan is out with an achilles injury. None of the aforementioned individuals are expected to train with the first team during the international break, with Carrick saying they are “not massively close (to being back in training) to be honest, no.”
When pressed a little more on the expected length of time they could be out, Carrick could only really commit to a reluctant estimation. He said, “It depends really, Riley has a problem with his foot, so that will be a period of time, a number of weeks and everybody else is a bit further than that.”
McGree a big miss
They are all big misses, but McGree is the one that Boro supporters seem to feel the most. His energy and creativity is pivotal to the way the side plays. The form of Greenwood and Rogers has helped somewhat, but he is till an integral attacking cog in the attacking unit.
Similarly Forss is a big loss, but in a different sense. He would probably not start games ahead of Isaiah Jones just now, but Forss’ directness and eagerness to score goals is a big weapon from the bench, as he proved against Sunderland.
In the case of Lenihan, it is not so much the position he plays, more the qualities he brings as a senior player and leader on the pitch. Boro may need to call upon the leaders in the group, and given that Tommy Smith, who is in a similar mould leadership-wise, is also missing, it leaves a lot for the likes of Jonny Howson to shoulder.