MICHAEL CARRICK insists it would be wrong to brand Matt Crooks as a ‘super-sub’ – as he feels the Middlesbrough midfielder is much more than a bit-part player.

Crooks has scored against both Norwich City and Luton Town after leaving the bench this season, and has also weighed in with a couple of key assists after coming onto the field as a replacement, setting up late goals for Riley McGree in both of this month’s matches against Cardiff City and QPR.

Twelve of the midfielder’s 28 Championship appearances this season have come as a substitute, and with Cameron Archer and Chuba Akpom unlikely to be shifted from the starting line-up, there is a good chance he will be back on the bench when Boro return to action at West Brom tomorrow afternoon.

He is clearly adept at making a difference in the latter stages of games, but Carrick claims it would be grossly unfair to pigeon-hole the 29-year-old as an impact player from the bench.

“I wouldn’t put that label (super-sub) on Crooksy,” said Carrick, whose side have closed to within four points of second-placed Sheffield United, who face a tricky home game against Watford tomorrow. “It’s unfair to brand him as that.

“He’s offered much more, and between now and the end of the season, he’ll definitely offer a lot again. I think it would be very unfair to label him as that. He’s much more important to us than that.”

From the moment he walked through the door at Rockliffe Park, Carrick has put a lot of stock in the importance of maintaining a happy and motivated squad.

Clearly, there has to be a focus on the 11 players who are starting most matches, but the other squad members can play a crucial role is setting the mood around the dressing room, and on that score, Carrick has been delighted with Crooks’ role as a key senior player.

“I’ve talked about the importance of the squad, and the group, pretty much every week,” he said. “It’s exactly that when it comes to Crooksy. When you look back at the impact he’s had, it’s been massive whether he’s started or come off the bench.

“He’s influenced pretty much every game we’ve played in a really positive way. Even if he’s just been on the pitch for five minutes, he’s made a difference. Look at Cardiff the other week, he came on and made a big difference for us, and he’s done that pretty much ever since he got fit after I got here.

“Then, even more than that, he gives us a lot just by the type of person that he is. His attitude and personality are great, and with the way that he is in training, it’s incredible how he goes about it, really. It’s fantastic how much of a team player he is, and when you see someone like that getting the benefits, it’s the benefits that they really deserve, so I’m delighted for him.”

Carrick was also happy with the impact made by Dan Barlaser and Aaron Ramsey in last week’s win over QPR, with the pair impressing as they made their first starts in a Boro shirt.

“To get success, and be a good team, you need a good squad and good people,” he said. “At certain times, you need certain players to make a difference. Mentality and the players’ attitudes are huge."

Middlesbrough (probable, 4-2-3-1): Steffen; Smith, Fry, Lenihan, Giles; Howson, Hackney; Forss, Akpom, McGree; Archer.