Middlesbrough have really struggled defensively during the opening stages of the 2024/25 season.
Ahead of the current campaign getting underway, Middlesbrough were predicted to push for promotion.
The Teessiders ended 2023/24 on a run of just one loss in their last 12 league matches and after some smart summer transfer business, things were looking very positive at the Riverside Stadium.
However, after seeing off Swansea City on August 10th, Michael Carrick has been dealing with a major injury crisis.
Middlesbrough had 10 players missing for their 2-2 draw with Portsmouth last month, while eight of those names were also absent the following week versus Cardiff City.
The main area impacted by this resurgence in injury problems has been centre-back.
Matt Clarke has impressed for Middlesbrough in the early stages of the 2024/25 season but he is currently the club’s only fit senior centre-back.
Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan are all out of action, with the latter two yet to make an appearance this season.
Michael Carrick has secret weapon to solve Middlesbrough centre-back problem
The lack of first-team centre-backs available so far this term has cost Boro in their opening fixtures.
Middlesbrough lost 5-0 versus Stoke City in the Carabao Cup and conceded two very poor goals in the aforementioned draw with Portsmouth.
George Edmundson was signed to a six-month loan on deadline day to provide some much-needed cover in that area.
However, the Ipswich Town man is not match fit and struggled to break into the Tractor Boys’ eleven during their promotion-winning campaign, suggesting he may not be the defensive saviour Boro are hoping for.
But Carrick may already have a secret weapon in his ranks who can add some stability to his backline going forward.
That man is academy star George McCormick, who broke into the senior team during pre-season.
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Why Michael Carrick must use George McCormick at centre-back
McCormick was dubbed ‘fantastic’ by academy manager Mark Tinkler after breaking into the first-team picture earlier this summer.
However, the 19-year-old was left on the bench for Boro’s opening three Championship fixtures and only played 65 minutes across the club’s two cup clashes last month.
In those outings, McCormick was deployed out of position at left-back due to limited numbers in that area.
Now though, Middlesbrough have signed Neto Borges to cover for Alex Bangura, opening the door for McCormick to move back into his natural centre-back role.
The teenager has looked sharp in his limited outings so far and would bring more stability to Boro’s backline if played alongside Clarke.
Luke Ayling has partnered Clarke recently but the right-back’s performances have been mixed and Carrick would be better served starting a natural centre-back like McCormick over the former Leeds United man this weekend against Preston North End.