Middlesbrough

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Michael Carrick has been speaking to the press before Middlesbrough's upcoming trip to Burnley on Friday (20:00 GMT).

Here are some of the key lines:

• Keeper Seny Dieng is back in training as Sol Brynn is praised for his performances in goal throughout Dieng's absence

• He credits the team's "togetherness" for their ability to comeback having lost in a tight 1-0 against Blackburn Rovers three days prior to their 3-1 win against Hull City on Saturday

• On creating a positive environment for the players: "Football is one thing but everyone being in a good place is another thing so when someone is having a tough time, we've all got to be there to look after them."

• On having to face promotion contenders Burnley and Leeds United in succession: "You're on that treadmill and you never get off it. That's the beauty of it, that's the challenge, that's the test - but certainly these next two games are a challenge."

• "Burnley are efficient in what they do and they are a good team. We kind of know what we are getting ourselves into."

• In reflection of the last time they faced Burnley two years ago, which resulted in a 2-1 loss: "We are better now than we have been since I've been here for different reasons - a little more rounded as a team and as a squad. We feel that we are in a stronger place."

• On Burnley boss Scott Parker: "He certainly always had a real presence and a confidence and that leader type of personality. From that side of things, looking at it, it doesn't surprise that he's done really well."

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Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has given an update on some of Boro's injury worries prior to their upcoming trip to Burnley on Friday.

Goalkeeper Seny Dieng and midfielder Riley McGree have returned to training with defender Rav van den Berg also back.

Midfielder Aidan Morris is also back on the training pitch but is not expected to return to the team as quickly while defender Darragh Lenihan will not be back before Christmas as he recovers from his long-term ankle injury.

As for Alex Bangura, Carrick is "hopeful" that the left-back will be able to return to the squad later in the season following an Achilles injury picked up in pre-season.

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Middlesbrough forward Tommy Conway admits he loves playing alongside on-loan Liverpool winger Ben Doak.

Conway, 22, scored either side of half-time in the 3-1 win over Hull City thanks to two assists from Doak, who he also plays with for the Scotland national team.

"I love him, not only on the pitch does he cause carnage and creates but off the pitch as well, he's a good mate of mine," Conway told BBC Radio Tees.

"When we're away with Scotland, we're always chilling out together.

"He said he's going to send me the invoice and I did say 'look Beno, I had to do a little bit for you'.

"You always know he's going to create something - it gives me confidence and makes me think of my next move so I need to make sure I'm in the box and timing my run correctly to get on the end of it."

Since Conway made his summer move to the Riverside from Bristol City, he has notched eight goals in his first 14 league appearances.

However, the striker claims he doesn't care who provides the goals as long as the team continue to climb the league table - where they currently sit fifth.

"It doesn’t matter who scores, I just want to be part of a successful team that’s going one place," he added.

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Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has praised Dael Fry for the defender's commitment to getting back to fitness.

The 27-year-old, who joined his local club aged seven, made his first start after a 10-month injury nightmare as Boro beat Hull 3-1 at the Riverside.

Prior to Saturday's game, Fry’s last competitive start came against Bristol City on 10 February before a pelvic problem ended his 2023-24 campaign and hampered his pre-season, with further complications restricting him to a couple of run-outs with the under-21s in recent months.

Fry had been a first-team mainstay before his injury but had only played 15 minutes off the bench in the 5-1 win over Luton on 9 November before this weekend.

Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: "Dael’s been out injured for a lot longer than what we first thought he would be.

"It’s been frustrating but credit to him for how he’s handled it. He’s worked so hard behind the scenes. It’s not easy to come back into a game like that too.

"It was a big day for him and he stepped up fantastically well."

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Adam Lanigan
BBC Sport England

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With typical understatement, Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick says that Ben Doak is doing "alright" as the Liverpool loanee produced another electric display.

Doak set up both of Tommy Conway's goals in Boro's 3-1 win over Hull City, which moved them up to fifth in the Championship.

November has been a spectacular month for the 19-year-old, with five assists for his club and one for Scotland in two fine performances in their Nations League wins over Croatia and Poland.

"He's doing alright, he's doing alright," said Boro boss Carrick.

Doak was a handful for the Tigers all afternoon, because along with the assists, he forced saves from goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and created other chances.

The teenager has emerged as a key player in one of the most electric attacks in the division, with only Norwich City bettering Boro's 32 goals.

And for Carrick, it's a question of letting that talent flourish for the side.

"It's clear for everyone to see the talent that he's got and the threat that he has," he told BBC Sport.

"He's a different threat to most. He's quite direct and not so much loads of tricks and skills, but he's got that attribute to be low with his centre of gravity, he's direct and gets in that position an awful lot.

"Credit to the boys for supplying him and using him and trying to bring out the best of him. He certainly fits the system really well and it's up to us to keep pushing him and developing him and trying to make him better."

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Blackburn Rovers' late winner in their 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough has left some Boro fans feeling robbed of a point after calls that goalscorer Dom Hyam was offside.

Rovers midfielder Todd Cantwell had also hit the net five minutes prior but had his goal ruled offside - however, the flag remained down when Hyam slid home soon after.

In Wednesday's Red Alert podcast, Paul Addison and former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison discuss Boro's lacklustre home performance and the goal that ended their free-scoring three-game winning streak.

"For me, the annoying thing is the linesman," Maddison said.

"As soon as it's gone in the net, I've looked and it's got to be offside. He's in front of the defender, he's played it in from behind - he has to be offside.

"The linesman is five yards behind, he's still got to see that. It's poor."

You can listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough's emphatic goal scoring in their past three league games - including six in their dominant displayed over Oxford United on Saturday - has propelled them up to fifth in the Championship table off the back of three convincing wins.

Striker Emmanuel Latte Lath has been responsible for five of the 15 scored in those three victories and will be hoping to add to his tally as Blackburn Rovers come to town on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Rovers' match against Portsmouth was called off at the weekend due to Storm Burt but they will certainly be looking to cause some disruption of their own when they finally take to the pitch for the first time since 9 November.

• Middlesbrough have won two of their last 18 league games against Blackburn Rovers (D9 L7) and drew 0-0 in the most recent meeting in March.

• Seven of Blackburn’s last nine league visits to Middlesbrough have been drawn, with Rovers winning the other two in 2021 and 2022.

• Middlesbrough have lost two of their last four home league games (W2), one more defeat than in their previous 10 such games (W6 D3).

• Blackburn are looking to win successive away league games for the first time since their final two such matches of 2023-24, having beaten Cardiff 3-1 in their most recent such game.

• Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway has netted three goals in his three previous Championship appearances against Blackburn, including two for Bristol City in April last season.

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has said he has moved on from his side’s 6-2 thrashing of Oxford United on Saturday.

The impressive victory meant Boro have now scored 15 goals in their last three games - the first time they have done so since November 1947 - but Carrick has emphasised the importance of his in-form squad looking forwards.

"There was a lot to be happy about, that’s pretty obvious," he told BBC Radio Tees. "I have to say we’ve moved on though in terms of [being] ready for the next game.

"I'm delighted the way the boys have come in and got their heads on the next game already."

Boro welcome Blackburn Rovers to the Riverside on Wednesday night after their fixture against Portsmouth at Ewood Park on Saturday fell victim to the weather.

The postponement means John Eustace's side have not been in action since before the international break but Carrick does not they believe this will give them an advantage in midweek.

"Between Saturday and Wednesday there's more than enough time to recover for a game anyway- whether we played or didn't play, I don't think it would have made a major impact," Carrick added.

"It is what it is, we know where we're at, the boys have recovered well and that's all we can ask for."

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Middlesbrough scored six goals in an away league game for the first time since October 1960 after thumping Oxford United on Saturday.

A hat-trick from Emmanuel Latte Lath, two goals from Finn Azaz and another from substitute Tommy Conway saw a rampant Boro climb into the Championship play-off positions.

Boro racked up 16 shots in total, 12 of which were on target.

The win also means Boro have scored 15 goals in their last three league games following their 4-1 win at QPR and 5-1 victory over Luton Town before the international break.

Incredibly, the last time Boro scored six on the road they failed to win in a 6-6 draw at Charlton Athletic which featured a hat-trick from the late Brian Clough.

That match became the joint-highest score draw in English league football alongside Arsenal's 6-6 draw with Leicester City in April 1930.

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Michael Carrick admits the loss of midfielder Aidan Morris for "a number of weeks" is a blow for Middlesbrough.

The 23-year-old USA international suffered a twisted knee in training with his country ahead of their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Jamaica.

Morris had played all 21 matches for club and country since the start of the season, having appeared in 22 more for previous club Columbus Crew between February and June.

Carrick has given his blessing for Morris to remain in the US before linking up with the Boro squad next week.

"We’ve given him an extra little bit of time off because it’s the right thing to do - he’s played a lot of football," Carrick said before his side head to Oxford United in the Championship on Saturday.

"He’ll be back with us next week. It’s a blow, it’s disappointing, but it's part of the game and hopefully he won’t be too long. He’ll come back strong, fit and fresh."

Carrick said he would "have to wait and see" on the fitness of Morris' midfield-partner Hayden Hackney, who is nursing an ankle problem.

"We’re hopeful, we're not giving up on him," Carrick said, with reference to Saturday.

Left-back Lukas Engel and centre-back Rav van den Berg have resumed light training after injury but remain absent, having missed 12 and three games respectively.

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It wasn't just the impressive Liverpool loanee Ben Doak who was away from the Middlesbrough squad on international duty over the past week.

Seven other players featured for their country including Doak's Scotland team-mate Tommy Conway, who started up front in the 1-0 Nations League win at home to Croatia and was an unused sub for the 2-1 victory in Poland.

Scotland's two wins in Group A1 in their final two fixtures means they have given themselves a chance of escaping relegation to League B when they contest a play-off in March next year.

Finn Azaz was a 76th minute sub for the Republic of Ireland in their 1-0 win over Finland on Thursday and played 23 minutes of the 5-0 defeat to England at Wembley in the Nations League three days later.

Ireland also face a play-off in four months to determine whether they stay in League B or are relegated to League C.

Isaiah Jones played the full 90 minutes in both of Guyana's games against Barbados in the Concacaf Nations League play-in round. Jones claimed an assist in a 4-1 win on Saturday and scored in a 5-3 victory on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at how Boro's players got on elsewhere:

• Riley McGree played 90 minutes for Australia in a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia and 81 minutes of a 2-2 draw with Bahrain in their Asian World Cup qualifiers.

• Anfernee Dijksteel played 21 minutes for Suriname in their 1-0 defeat by Canada in the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final. He was an unused sub in a 3-0 loss in the second leg.

• Aidan Morris was called up by the USA but did not make the matchday squad for the 1-0 and 4-2 wins over Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final.

• Goalkeeper Seny Dieng was an unused sub for Senegal in their 1-0 win over Burkina Faso and 2-0 victory against Burundi in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stage.

Image source, Rex Features

Former England international Andros Townsend said he's "never seen a winger who can dribble with both feet" like Ben Doak.

The 19-year-old is on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough from Liverpool and starred for Scotland during their Nations League wins over Croatia and Poland.

"He was brilliant, so fearless," Townsend said of Doak's performance in the 1-0 victory against Croatia on BBC's Monday Night Club.

"We're talking about [Josko] Gvardiol, the most expensive defender in the world and he was just running at him. He was taking him on, he was doing tricks.

"But the thing that impressed me most as a winger myself is he can dribble with both feet, so you don't know what he's going to do.

"Most wingers now, they have a competitive weaker foot but I've never seen a winger be able to dribble with both feet.

"He can dribble with his right foot or make that nice angle with his left foot and come inside and get shots off. Very impressed with him as a whole."

Doak has scored once and delivered three assists in 10 Championship appearances for Boro this season, who are seventh in the table and chasing promotion.

The teenager also assisted John McGinn's opener in the dramatic 2-1 win over Poland in Warsaw on Monday night.

Ex-Norwich, Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton said the word "fearless" is a "great description" of Doak.

"That's what he is," said Sutton. "I think he's made the right move in terms of going out on loan at Middlesbrough. He's getting game time."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds here.