Middlesbrough have turned their season around after a slow start but are now facing an injury crisis as they look to continue their good run of form.
Michael Carrick’s men suffered an awful first six weeks of the campaign, with no league wins in their opening seven games, picking up just two points. A run that included a home draw against Huddersfield Town, and a defeat to Queens Park Rangers also on home soil.
They are now the most in-form side, along with Leicester City, with six straight league wins, the latest a 2-1 win at Norwich City on Tuesday evening.
Key Players Injured
However, they go into this weekend’s home match against Stoke City with two defensive players out injured.
Tommy Smith missed the trip to Carrow Road and an ankle injury that Carrick revealed as something more long-term. Add this to Lukas Engel being pulled from the win late on with a groin strain.
This means both fullbacks are out and putting Carrick in a situation where he will have to rely on his squad depth potentially for the foreseeable future.
With Rav van den Berg filling on for Smith already, he will likely keep his place, and Alex Bangura will replace Engel, but he is only just returning from time on the treatment table.
Speaking after the Norwich game, Carrick was reported by The Northern Echo, saying. “We’ll have to count the bodies for the weekend to see who’s fit. We’re a bit like the walking wounded at the moment. We’ll have to see who we end up with. Lukas came off with a tight groin, and Tommy’s ankle looks like it’s going to be a long one, unfortunately.
“We’ve got a decent team at the moment that didn’t even travel (to Norwich) and are sat on the sidelines at the minute, unfortunately for us. But, as I’ve always said, that’s why we’ve got the squad we have. Different lads will get their chances at different parts of the season.”
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These setbacks add more bodies to the physio room. With strikers Marcus Forss out with a thigh issue, and Emmanuel Latte Lath struck down with illness.
“Marcus has a tight thigh, but we have to wait and see on that one. We’re not sure yet whether that will be a quick one or not. We’re just assessing that one at the moment, and then Manu missed out through illness, he’s been sick for the last couple of days.
“We’ve got a decent team at the moment that didn’t even travel (to Norwich) and are sat on the sidelines at the minute, unfortunately for us. But, as I’ve always said, that’s why we’ve got the squad we have. Different lads will get their chances at different parts of the season.”
Writer’s View
Middlesbrough were one of the revelations of last season, and Carrick has started to get the best out of his squad after a rocky start. He will be hoping that these injuries will not stop their progress up the table, as they now sit in a healthy seventh place, and poised to strike at teams above them.
Coming into the autumn months is always a test of resilience, and if they can ride this period out and get a healthy squad together for the Christmas period, then you can fully expect ‘Boro to be pushing hard into the New Year.
