MICHAEL CARRICK is hoping Dael Fry will be able to return to Middlesbrough’s squad when they face Stoke City on Tuesday evening.

Fry missed today’s 3-1 win at Swansea City because of an illness, with Paddy McNair returning to take his place at the heart of the back four.

The Teessider has been struggling all week, but Carrick is hoping that a weekend’s rest will result in an improvement in his wellbeing ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with the Potters.

Carrick said: “We’ll just have to see (if Fry is okay for the Stoke game). He hasn’t been great most of the week.

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“We’ll just have to see how he is when we get back tomorrow for training. We’ll make a call on that.”

Isaiah Jones was also absent from the squad that faced the Swans, but the winger’s exclusion was a selection decision rather than something that was forced because of either injury or illness.

Carrick said: “There was no reason (for Jones not being in the squad). Finchy (Sonny Finch) has just been excellent in training and I thought he deserved his chance.”