MICHAEL CARRICK is delighted with Middlesbrough’s squad depth in the wake of last month’s transfer window, and is hoping the number of options at his disposal will help ensure the Teessiders maintain their ongoing promotion push in the final three months of the season.
The strength of Boro’s bench was one of the most notable features of Saturday’s convincing 3-0 win over Blackpool, with Carrick finding himself in a position where he was able to make potentially-transformative changes in all areas of the field.
Dan Barlaser made his debut as a second-half substitute following his January move from Rotherham United, with Marc Bola, Isaiah Jones and Alex Mowatt also entering the fray in the closing stages to help Boro seal their success.
Dael Fry and Matt Crooks – two of Boro’s most influential players for much of the campaign – were unused substitutes, with Anfernee Dijksteel, who had been on the bench for the previous game against Watford, not even able to make the matchday squad.
Aaron Ramsey, a deadline-day loan signing from Aston Villa, will provide further competition for places once he has completed his recovery from the knee injury that curtailed his spell at Norwich City in the first half of the season, and Carrick is more than satisfied with the fruits of Boro’s recruitment work.
“I think we’re getting stronger all the time as a group,” said the head coach, who has led his side to ten wins from his 14 league matches in charge. “In terms of options, we have so many now and we’re having to leave players out and others who are still coming back (from injury).
“That’s what I want – competition for places. I’ve got a lot of players in all of the positions, and whoever plays, I fully trust them. What I see day in and day out gives me a lot of confidence and belief in them.
“Hopefully not, but throughout the season, you’re likely to get injuries and suspensions. So, you need players coming in. It’s a great place to be when you’ve got options like that.”
Carrick has two senior options for every position on the field now – more in some cases – with the increased depth meaning he is confident he can cope with whatever eventualities are thrown at him in the remainder of the season.
Crucially, he can also shake things up for specific matches, perhaps reinstalling Crooks up front if he feels he needs more of a physical threat or even switching to five at the back if Boro are playing against a team with specific attacking attributes.
“That’s what you want in a squad,” he continued. “We want a strong squad, and we want strong options and players that bring things that are slightly different for certain games. It helps to push each other too, there’s no hiding from that.
“It’s a good place when you’ve got a bit of competition – playing with that edge and pushing yourself to be a bit better all the time. I’ve got no worries with how the boys will deal with that, and I think we’ll all benefit from it.”
Saturday’s victory took Boro five points clear of seventh position, and lifted Carrick’s side to within ten points of second-placed Sheffield United.
The Blades have a game in hand, but whereas a month or so ago, the battle for automatic promotion looked done and dusted, there is a suddenly a chink of light that Boro could exploit. Not, however, that Carrick is paying too much attention to how things are stacking up with 16 games still to play.
“There’s a lot of football to be played yet,” he said. “Of course, you could say that as each game goes by and we’re in the position we’re in, you can understand why people might feel the significance of each game grows and grows.
“But, really, it’s just another game. It really is, and as players and staff who are in it, you’ve got to deal with it like that.
"You’ve got to approach it like that so that you can be clear with how you go about your performance. The results will take care of themselves, and you’ll end up where you end up.”
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