THEY’VE established an excellent partnership at the heart of Middlesbrough's backline but Michael Carrick believes Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry can get even better for his promotion chasing side.

Lenihan and Fry have been ever-presents in the defence since Carrick's appointment and key to the turnaround in Boro's season. The pair were superb yet again at Birmingham City on Monday, particularly in the difficult spell in the second half after the home side pushed for a leveller.

Both have overcome tough spells earlier in the season. Lenihan had an uncertain start to the campaign after his summer move from Blackburn while Fry surprisingly found himself out of the team under Chris Wilder.

READ MORE: Michael Carrick hails Middlesbrough mindset and ability to 'suffer' in Birmingham win

But for Carrick, both are vital players on and off the pitch, and the head coach believes the best is still to come.

“Darragh has been terrific for us. He’s a big voice in the changing room and a big voice in terms of leading the back line," said Carrick when quizzed on Lenihan.

"Him and Dael have created a really good partnership and understanding together. The more that builds, understanding each other's games more, things like distances and each other's strengths and weaknesses, the better it should be for us.

"Darragh has been a huge positive and big part of what we’ve done so far."

From the back to the front, Carrick was delighted to see Matt Crooks hit a second half brace at Birmingham and again explained why he thinks the ex-Rotherham man is suited to playing up-front.

He said: "I'm delighted for Crooksy. The work he does and his movement and the way he links play, I just see him as a huge threat in and around the box.

"He’s a player who just has that knack of being in the right place for balls to fall for him. Two terrific finishes as well, so delighted for him."

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The win at Birmingham made it the perfect Christmas and New Year week for Boro and lifted them to fifth in the Championship table but Carrick again stressed the importance of kicking on rather than settling for what's already been achieved.

He said: “It’s never enough. We said that at half-time, and we said that at full-time. We pat each other on the back and I congratulated the lads for the effort and quality that they showed, but it’s never enough and we all know we’ve got to keep pushing for more.

"We’ve got nearly half of the season still to go so we’ve got to keep going. I’m really enjoying it. The supporters are behind us amazingly well and we’ve got great spirit amongst us and that can take you a long way. We have to keep building on that."