Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick reveals plans for Hayden Coulson

Coulson, who is currently on a season-long loan with Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen, signed a new long-term contract with Boro this week that commits him to the Riverside until the summer of 2025.

Prior to his dismissal as Aberdeen boss last month, Jim Goodwin had publicly stated the Dons’ desire to sign Coulson permanently in the summer, and the left-back has also been attracting interest from clubs within the English Football League.

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However, having taken the decision to issue Coulson with a new deal, Carrick is looking forward to working with the Gateshead-born 24-year-old at close quarters when pre-season training begins at Rockliffe Park later this summer.

“Do we want to get Hayden back into the building in the summer and work with him? Of course,” said the Boro boss. “I’ve not been fortunate enough to work with Hayden yet because he’s been away ever since I’ve been here.

“I’m looking forward to getting him back and working with him, and seeing how it goes in pre-season. That’s the plan.”

Coulson has experienced plenty of highs and lows since joining Aberdeen last summer. He earned rave reviews at the start of his loan spell, with the Dons flying high in the top half of the Scottish Premier League table, but along with the rest of his team-mates, has found things much tougher as Aberdeen’s form has nose-dived since the turn of the year.

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The nadir came when he was part of the side that was knocked out of the Scottish Cup by part-timers Darvel, but while Coulson would undoubtedly have wished for more positive results, Carrick is confident he will have learned a great deal from his time at Pittordrie.

“He’s done well up there,” he said. “I think it will have been a great experience for him, playing a lot of football in different situations and circumstances, some testing, some that have been good games.

“That’s part of the learning experience. He’s a young player, and I think experiencing all of that stands you in good stead for how you develop.”

Boro’s left-back situation is likely to be in a state of flux this summer, with Ryan Giles due to return to his parent club, Wolves, when his loan expires at the end of the current campaign.

Giles has been a revelation since joining Boro at the start of the season, rapidly establishing himself as one of the most exciting attacking full-backs outside the top-flight, and Boro’s recruitment team are understandably keen to sign him on a permanent basis.

Middlesbrough full-back Ryan Giles (Image: Tom Banks)

Talks were held with the Wolves hierarchy during last month’s transfer window, but an agreement proved unattainable, with new Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui understood to be keen to keep his options open.

Wolves currently have Huge Bueno and Rayan Ait Nouri battling for their left-back berth, so there is definitely a chance that Giles could be made available in the summer. Boro would not be the only club battling for his signature in that scenario, but the Teessiders would hope the 23-year-old’s positive experiences this season would prompt him to agree to a permanent deal.

“There’s conversations that go on all the time,” said Carrick. “It’s not like we don’t talk about things and then just decide in the summer. It’s an ongoing thing.

“Obviously, right now, there’s nothing more to report on it, but Ryan has been magnificent for us. He’s obviously caused a lot of problems going forward, but he’s also improved an awful lot on his defending.

“He’s a terrific lad, and I really enjoy working with him and having him around the building because he brings a lot of energy to the group. Of course, we’re constantly looking at what we need to improve and nail down now or in the summer. That’s just constant work that we’re trying to carry out.”