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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."

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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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