Carrick pleased with makeshift centre-backs

Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough are eighth in the Championship, three points outside the top six

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has praised the attitude of his makeshift back four as the club deal with a defensive injury crisis.

Carrick is without all four central defenders as well as Luke Ayling who has covered in that position.

Veteran midfielder and captain Jonny Howson was partnered with left-back Neto Borges as centre backs in the win against QPR.

Howson and Borges are set to resume that partnership away to Luton Town on Saturday with Carrick admitting none of his regulars are likely to return.

"Jonny and Neto did particularly well the other night and Neto did well at Swansea," Carrick told BBC Look North.

With Neto moved across into the middle, on-loan Aston Villa winger Samuel Iling-Junior has been pressed into service at left-back.

But it is the desire of his players to do a job for the team that has struck a chord with the Boro boss.

"A lot of it comes down to your mentality and your approach to it," said Carrick.

"Some are not too keen and are almost put off by it, or you can the other way like the boys have and be really committed to it and enjoy that new challenge and the freshness of it.

"Jonny's done it a few times and Neto's done it in the past, but to see Neto do it has been particularly pleasing and Samuel has shown his versatility.

"There might be the odd mistake - which is only natural - but the players have given it everything they've got, which is great to see."