Middlesbrough are likely to be without Darragh Lenihan tomorrow for the trip to Sunderland, with the defender still not training as a result of his foot injury.
Lenihan has missed Boro's last two, but Carrick says the club still don't have a definitive timeframe for when the Ireland international might be back in action as they await tests on the problem causing pain in his foot. Nevertheless, perhaps offering some encouragement that it's not expected to be very serious, the Boro head coach says the club's transfer plans won't change as a result.
Lenihan's lay-off comes as Boro are also still without Anfernee Dijksteel and Matt Clarke. Dijksteel is not expected back until the start of next month, while Clarke has been gradually building up his recovery from a back problem, though still isn't ready for a return.
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Asked about Lenihan ahead of the Wear-Tees derby on Sunday, Carrick said: “We’re still waiting for an update on Darragh, unfortunately. We don’t know how that’s going to go but he hasn’t been involved yet. We’ll have to wait and see, but he’s still not training with the group yet.”
“He’s (Clarke) done some training with us, but then he’s suffered mini setbacks along the way too. We’re monitoring that at the moment and obviously, that’s why I keep stressing the need for patience. It’s not a straightforward injury to manage or come back from, so we’re just seeing how he goes."
Despite the absences, Boro kept their first clean sheet for six games last time out, with Paddy McNair starting his first league game under Carrick and showing the depth that Boro do have at their disposal at the back. It's for that reason that Carrick won't be tempted to ask the club to go into the market to sign another.
“I think you can look at it in different ways," he said. "But I think just because you have someone who might be out for a few weeks, to bring someone else in you then have another player to manage when they become fit again. It’s not always the answer just bringing someone else.
"The balance and the dynamics of the squad are so important to me, and we have to keep that right and the signings have got to be right and not just kneejerk because of an injury. Of course, if it’s really long-term then it’s a different story, but right now we’re really calm."
Middlesbrough expected XI: Steffen, Fry, Smith, McNair, Giles, McGree, Howson, Crooks, Hackney, Forss, Akpom.
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