Michael Carrick has issued a positive injury update ahead of Middlesbrough’s clash with Swansea City this weekend.
Boro secured a 2-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday on Easter Monday and it kept their slim hopes of a top-six finish alive.
The Riverside outfit reside six points adrift of sixth-placed Norwich City, who suffered a 3-1 defeat to Leicester City.
Carrick has had to contend with a number of injuries in recent weeks and for the trip to St Mary’s last Friday, 11 senior players were absent.
The good news, however, is that one of his key stars is expected to return on Saturday, as they welcome Swansea to Teeside.
Michael Carrick expects Rav van den Berg to return v Swansea
Rav van den Berg has missed the last three Championship fixtures due to injury but Carrick revealed he is nearing a return, speaking following Boro’s win on Monday.
“There isn’t long left, but we’re hoping certainly for Rav, and maybe Hayden for Saturday in terms of being back around the group,” the 42-year-old said.
“Rav was close, to a point. But he’s 19 and he’s played a lot of football this season. It would have been easy to put him back in, but we had the bigger picture in mind too.
“We have a duty to do the right things to look after the boys. He’s certainly done great things for us this season, but with the age he’s at, we’ve got to be careful with him,” Carrick continued.
“I said similar about Josh earlier in the season. It’s not just a case of, ‘Throw him in, he’s fit or he’s 80 per cent fit’. There was a bit of that thinking in the decision not to pick him (van den Berg). It just wasn’t perfect, but hopefully he will be back on Saturday.”
Middlesbrough still not out of the play-off picture
With key players returning, there’s no reason why Boro can’t put together a winning run to end the season strongly.
They have six points to make up to bridge the gap on the top six and with 18 points still to play for, it’s certainly attainable, even if it’s a little unlikely.
Carrick’s side, however, can’t afford to slip up on Saturday and should be putting away a Swansea side, who have nothing to play for, really.
The Swans have won one of their last five games, so Boro certainly have the greater momentum heading into the fixture.