Middlesbrough

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Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris could be fit to play again before Christmas, according to head coach Michael Carrick.

The 23-year-old suffered a twisted knee while on international duty with the USA in mid-November.

Morris had played in every Championship game for Boro since joining from MLS side Columbus Crew in the summer but has missed the past five with injury.

"Aidan isn't training with the group just yet, but he's progressing well and could be available before Christmas," Carrick said in his press conference ahead of Saturday's home game with Millwall.

After this weekend, Boro travel to Plymouth on 21 December before a run of four games in 10 days over a busy Christmas and New Year period.

Carrick said it will be a "tough game" at the Riverside against Millwall for what will be Lions' head coach Neil Harris' final match in charge.

"We obviously know it's his last game," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees. "He's done a really good job and they'd been on a really good run.

"They'll be wanting to try and bounce back for their own season, so I fully expect a really challenging game - an intense game and we will have to be at our best to win."

You can listen to Michael Carrick's pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees

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Middlesbrough find themselves 10 points from the Championship promotion places today after Sheffield United's victory at Millwall.

Boro are also a point shy of the play-off places after Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Leeds United.

That was a game that saw Boro draw level in the second half after a first half that captain Hayden Hackney admitted to BBC Radio Tees Sport largely passed them by.

They then contrived to lose two further goals through some sloppy play and returned to Teesside empty-handed.

Michael Carrick's verdict was largely positive, insisting his side had done a lot of good things and that he doesn't think they are far away.

Those comments belied his demeanour on the touchline, where he was a lot more demonstrative than usual and showed flashes of real frustration and anger at some of Boro's decision-making in their own half.

He was also furious that an off-the-ball foul on Emmanuel Latte Lath during a Boro break wasn't spotted by the officials.

Carrick's view of the game was in contrast to the majority of Boro fans, who felt their team hadn't performed anywhere near the level they're capable of.

Indeed, it was a performance that fell short of their showing at Burnley last Friday when they came away from Turf Moor with a point, having made the better chances in the game.

This weekend's game with Millwall is one Boro have to win to resume the momentum they had been building before going to Burnley and Leeds.

The play-offs are a must, but despite there being more than half the season left, the top two may be disappearing over the horizon.

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Millwall's Neil Harris is among four bosses nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award for November, even though he will leave the club after Saturday's match at Middlesbrough.

Harris led the Lions on a five-match unbeaten run last month from which they took nine points and conceded only three goals.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United collected 16 points from six unbeaten games in November during which time they went top of the Championship and beat rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby.

Although they lost two of their six league games last month, Middlesbrough went goal crazy under Michael Carrick as they recorded four wins by scorelines of 4-1, 5-1, 6-2 and 3-1.

Scott Parker watched his Burnley side pick up four wins and suffer just one defeat from their six games in November.

The Clarets also only conceded one goal.

The winner of the Championship's Manager of the Month award will be announced on Friday morning.

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Middlesbrough were unable to capitalise on second-half momentum as they fell to a 3-1 defeat by Championship leaders Leeds United on Tuesday.

But for captain Hayden Hackney, the loss has not dented his confidence.

"We can compete with the highest teams," Hackney told BBC Radio Tees.

"Although the result hasn't gone for us, I think we've showed that if those chances do fall and we do put our chances away - especially in the second half - it could have been a different game."

Boro equalised early into the second half after Leeds defender Max Wober headed the ball into his own net from a Dan Barlaser corner.

The visitors then had the opportunity to go ahead through Liverpool loanee Ben Doak, but Leeds keeper Illan Meslier came off his line to smother the attack.

The home side soon took the lead themselves before sealing the win through Brenden Aaronson in injury time.

However, Hackney is not spending too much time rueing lost chances.

"We will take the positives from this. We will look at the game, see what we can do better and go again on Saturday," the midfielder added.

Middlesbrough host Millwall at the weekend (15:00 GMT).

You can listen to the full post-match reaction on BBC Sounds.

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has said he is wary of the challenge a "dangerous" Leeds United pose as he prepares to take his side to Elland Road.

Carrick was satisfied following Boro's 1-1 draw at Burnley on Friday but admits his team are set for another testing Championship evening against Daniel Farke's side on Tuesday.

"We know it's a big challenge, they're playing some really good football, getting some really good results and got some fantastic individual players," the 43-year-old told BBC Radio Tees.

"We've had some good games against them over the last year or so and I'm sure this one will be no different."

Boro comfortably saw off Leeds 3-0 in the Carabao Cup in August but Carrick is not looking too much into that result.

"Every game is different but with it being in the cup there is a different side to it, they are kind of one-off games."

The former England, Manchester United and West Ham midfielder also confirmed that defensive duo Rav van den Berg and Lukas Engel have returned to first-team training.

"Rav's back with us, he's been out for us for some weeks," Carrick said.

"Lukas has just joined in for the first time with us in a small capacity which is great, so we're in good shape".

Leeds United and Middlesbrough clash at Elland Road on Tuesday night in a game that sees two sides vying for promotion lock horns.

The Whites have won seven games in a row on home soil and have lost just twice in their previous 14 overall (W9 D3) - both of which were 1-0 defeats at Millwall and Blackburn respectively.

Boro have scored 19 goals in their past six games, winning four, losing one and drawing one at Burnley last time out.

• Leeds United have won each of their past four league games against Middlesbrough, scoring 3+ goals in three of those matches. It's their longest ever such winning run over Boro.

• Middlesbrough have failed to win any of their past eight away league games against Leeds (D2 L6), failing to score more than one goal in seven of those matches at Elland Road.

• This will be Leeds' 50th home league game against Middlesbrough, with the Yorkshire outfit scoring 1.96 goals on average across their prior meetings with Boro on home soil.

• Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Latte Lath scored a brace in both league meetings with Leeds last season, although ended up on the losing side both times (3-2 away, 4-3 home).

• Leeds' Daniel Farke has won seven of his eight league games against Middlesbrough (D1), his most wins against a single opponent as a Championship manager.

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick said it was a "good point" after his side earned a 1-1 draw at Burnley.

"If you go into the changing room, there's a tinge of disappointment, which is a good sign for me," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"The boys are a bit disappointed that we haven't won the game, albeit respectful and accepting the way the game was and how tight it was in some aspects.

"We're striving for more, we're hoping for more. Tonight we couldn't quite get it but we'll certainly take it and use it as a positive going into the games coming up."

On ending Burnley's run of five straight clean sheets, Carrick said: "They're very good defensively, Scotty [Parker] has got them really well organised, not giving a lot away at all through the whole season really.

"It shows some of our play at times was really good and I think we're a little bit disappointed that we haven't had another goal. But maybe they're similar. They had moments around our box as well."

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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.