Middlesbrough

Image source, Rex Features

There are eight Middlesbrough players who have been called up for senior international duty this week:

• Seny Dieng for Senegal

• Anfernee Dijksteel for Suriname

• Aidan Morris for USA

• Isaiah Jones for Guyana

• Ben Doak and Tommy Conway for Scotland

• Riley McGree for Australia

• Finn Azaz for Republic of Ireland

You can keep up to date with how they are getting on using our scores and fixtures list as well as follow Scotland and the Republic of Ireland's matches live on the BBC Sport website and Radio 5 Live.

This week's 72+:The EFL Podcast guest is Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith, who talks about his career so far with promotion joy and disappointing setbacks.

The experienced right-back, who's been out injured since October 2023 but is on the road to recovery, also reserved praise for Boro head coach and former Manchester United captain Michael Carrick.

"One thing you would say about Michael Carrick is - I've seen it first-hand as soon as he walked through the door - he coaches and he manages exactly how he plays," Smith said.

"I think the players can relate to him very, very well.

"As a player, all you want is clarity and honesty. That's certainly two things I've found over the years that are very, very important when it comes to dealing with managers and coaches and that's what he gives you."

Middlesbrough is Carrick's first permanent managerial role, having briefly took over as caretaker for the Red Devils in November 2021 before Ralf Rangnick became interim boss 12 days later.

Smith, however, feels that the former England international is making the most of his first appointment.

"From my point of view, he's done a terrific job," he added.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith admits he is desperate to get back playing again after more than a year on the sidelines.

Smith, 32, has been out since October 2023 when he ruptured his Achilles in a match against Birmingham City.

The former Huddersfield Town and Stoke City player has undergone an extensive period of rehabilitation but hopes he is near the end of it.

"I'm on the road to recovery and hopefully I'll be back on the grass again sooner rather than later," he told 72+: The EFL Podcast.

Smith was Boro's regular right-back under boss Michael Carrick when he got injured, with Luke Ayling arriving from Leeds United, initially on loan in January, to cover for his absence.

The defender says he has "hated" having to go through his recovery period and he 'craves' a return to match action.

"I want to get fit as soon as possible," he said. "I've absolutely hated every single minute of his rehabilitation.

"I'm a firm believer that it will make me stronger mentally. But I just want to get back on the grass.

"I crave that routine of going in on a Monday morning and preparing for a game on a Saturday."

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick wants his players to recharge their batteries during the international break ready for the long winter slog.

Boro are seventh in the Championship, one point outside the play-offs after scoring nine goals in wins over QPR and Luton Town.

It is their highest position of the season, but rather than worry about losing momentum, Carrick believes it is time to take stock.

"It's that time of year for the boys to take a deep breath," he told BBC Radio Tees.

Boro resume with a trip to Oxford United on 23 November where they will aim for a third consecutive win for the first time since March.

But with visits to Burnley and Leeds United to come before Christmas, it is set to be a very important time to shape the Teessiders' season.

"There's a long winter and a load of football ahead and hopefully plenty of good times," Carrick added.

"We've had a good little blast, but this feels like a time to freshen up."

Middlesbrough put in an outstanding performance to thrash struggling Luton Town 5-1 on Saturday - and midfielder Finn Azaz believes consistency has been the key to Boro's rise to form.

"I think goals have been coming," Azaz, who scored twice in the win, told the Red Alert podcast.

"It's really important to back up a win. The results have picked up and I think we can take loads of confidence. Win game after game, hopefully.

"We try to be consistent with our performances and I believe we've been doing that."

On his brace, Azaz shared some of the glory with team-mate Ben Doak - the Liverpool loanee set up Delano Burgzorg's opener and the first of Azaz's two goals.

"I speak to Doaky all the time," Azaz said.

"He's obviously flying down that right hand side and I tell him 'be aware I'm going to be there for the cutback'. I'll give him his props, it was a really good assist.

"He's outstanding as a character. Obviously on the pitch, he doesn't care who he's up against, isn't fazed by anything.

"It's a pleasure to play with him and seeing him grow out there."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick has been speaking to the media before Middlesbrough host Luton Town in the Championship on Saturday (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• He said he wants the team to keep building on their attack "in terms of the creating and scoring" after an emphatic 4-1 victory over QPR on Tuesday.

• Left-back Neto Borges is being assessed after illness.

• Ben Doak is "coming through well" but still having his time monitored after lengthy injury spell last season.

• Carrick feels that the good performances from substitutes are "healthy" and is focused on overall team performance.

• It's "good to have Hayden Hackney back" as the midfielder returns from suspension.

• He thinks Luton's performances have "been a lot better" than their results and are improving.

• The Championship table is "tight" but there are "good signs" from the team, however he still feels they still need to improve.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough's Riley McGree says they had to be 'good in both boxes' in their 4-1 win at QPR.

The victory takes Boro' level on points with sixth placed West Brom ahead of tonight's Championship matches.

"We were clinical and took our chances," McGree told BBC Tees Sport.

"Seny (Dieng) made some good saves and we got some blocks in so we had to be good at both ends.

"At 2-1 I didn't think it would slip away because as a squad we have good character and maturity."

McGree gave Middlesbrough the lead at Loftus Road as they recorded just their second win in their past six matches.

"Momentum changes during games, we surfed a wave and won comprehensively.

"We've got to start consistently winning games and hopefully it's only a matter of time before we get to where we want to be and need to be," added the Australian international.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has emphasised the importance of his squad keeping calm after a disappointing run of three defeats in five Championship matches.

Boro sit 10th in the league, three points outside the play-offs, but a 3-0 defeat at home to Coventry City on Saturday, in which star midfielder Hayden Hackney was sent off for two yellow cards, was a blow.

"We want to win more games - there's no getting away from that," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"In most of the games that we've played, we've been very close - it wasn't long ago since we beat Sheffield United and played really well at Norwich.

"I think the key to it is staying pretty stable and pretty calm.

"One result, one half of a game or a performance shouldn't set the levels of emotion in terms of ups and downs, certainly for the players and the staff.

"We're concentrating on that really - staying level, staying positive and taking that in to the next two games."

Club captain Jonny Howson is likely to deputise in Hackney's absence for Boro's trip to strugglers Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday, while Carrick also said Ben Doak remains a doubt with fatigue.

"That's the squad, that's why it kicks in during the season - you never, ever play the same XI for long periods of time," added Carrick.

Image source, BBC Sport

Queens Park Rangers are second from bottom and without a win in their last nine games (D5 L4), having picked up just one victory so far this season.

Middlesbrough have only won one of their last five (D1 L3) and are in need of points to keep in touch with the play-off spots.

• The away team have won four of the last seven league meetings between QPR and Middlesbrough (D1 L2).

• Middlesbrough are looking to win consecutive away league games against QPR for just a second time, also doing so in January 2018.

• QPR have failed to win any of their last seven league games in midweek (D4 L3) since beating Stoke 4-2 at home in November 2023.

• Middlesbrough won both league matches in London last season, beating Millwall 3-1 and QPR 2-0. They could win three consecutive such games for the first time since February 2012.

• Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has been involved in eight goals in his 16 away appearances for Boro in the Championship (5 goals, 3 assists), five of which have come in his last seven such games (2 goals, 3 assists).

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough defender Rav van den Berg faces a "number of weeks" out as he recovers from a twisted knee.

The Dutch centre-back missed the 3-0 defeat by Coventry City on Saturday after picking up the injury in training.

He will be absent for this week's games with Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town with head coach Michael Carrick unsure of an exact return date for the 20-year-old.

"The international break will help us in terms of him missing games," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"Hopefully, we'll get him back at some point after that, but it will be a number of weeks."

Boro are currently 11th in the Championship, three points below the play-off spots.

Image source, Rex Features

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