Middlesbrough head into Saturday’s home clash with Swansea City brimming with confidence and on a six game unbeaten run.
Lat weeks comfortable 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday took Michael Carrick‘s side to within six points of sixth placed Norwich City who entertain Ipswich this weekend in the East Anglia derby.
Whilst it’s certain that Carrick would love to be further up the Championship ladder, and a bit closer to those play-off places, there is no doubt that he sees this as an opportunity to put the squeeze on Middlesbrough’s rivals and see if they can finish with a flourish.
With just six games remaining, Middlesbrough still have to navigate tricky ties against Hull, Ipswich and Leeds among others, but they are in the ascendancy and they appear to be enjoying their role as the hunters, rather than the hunted.
Rav van den Berg set to return
Despite the difficult brief ahead of them, Carrick had good news on the injury front during his pre-match press conference for the home game with Swansea.
Carrick said:
“We’ve got a couple more around the group. Rav’s looking to get back in and around the group at some stage this week, and Hayden (Hackney) is looking to get back around the group at some point this week too.
“Alex Bangura is back training, which is good because he’s been out for such a long period of time. Finchy (Sonny Finch) is back in training too after missing a couple of days. We’re gradually getting some back, although whether it’s this week or next week for them to be back in the squad, we’ll have to see.”
Rav van den Berg has been one of Middlesbrough’s stand-out performers this season, and despite missing the last three games, he has been instrumental in Middlesbrough’s ability to play well defensively.
In fact, the Teessider’s have kept four clean sheets in the last five games. Prior to that, they had only managed five in the previous 36 league fixtures.
‘NFL quarterback’ the one to miss out
Jonny Howson has deputised well at centre-back in van den Berg’s absence alongside the increasing presence of Matt Clarke. However, he is expected to move back alongside Lewis O’Brien at the heart of the midfield to accommodate the Dutchman. That means Dan Barlaser – who played well against Sheffield Wednesday and was described by Journalist Craig Johns as an ‘NFL quarter-back‘, could be the one to lose out.
Howson and O’Brien is a partnership that will offer a more robust line of defence against a team who will look to keep the ball for long spells.
Elsewhere, Sam Greenwood and Finn Azaz should continue with their play-maker duties against a Swans side who – aside from mathematically guaranteeing their Championship status – have little to play for.
The 25-year-old Lukas Engel should return at left-back after Luke Thomas failed to make a lasting impression against Sheffield Wednesday.
Based on returning players, and the upcoming schedule with games against Hull and Ipswich after this one, here is the Middlesbrough line-up we think we will see for the Swansea clash….
GK – Seny Dieng
LB – Lukas Engel
RB – Luke Ayling
CB – Rav van den Berg
CB – Matt Clarke
CM – Jonny Howson
CM – Lewis O’Brien
RW – Isaiah Jones
CAM – Finn Azaz
LW – Sam Greenwood
ST – Emmanuel Latte Lath