MIDDLESBROUGH loanee Aaron Ramsey has been named in the England Under-20 squad for the upcoming World Cup - raising hopes he could yet play some part in Boro's play-off campaign.

The Aston Villa loanee hasn't featured for Boro since being forced off during the win against Norwich City in the middle of last month, and recently returned to his parent club for treatment.

Head coach Michael Carrick said after the final day draw with Coventry City that he's focusing on the players who are fit rather than worrying too much about those missing - with Dael Fry, Jonny Howson and Marcus Forss all sidelined alongside Ramsey.

But Ramsey's inclusion in the squad for World Cup in Argentina - due to start this month - suggests his injury isn't long-term and raises hopes that he could return for Boro at some stage during the play-offs.

That would be a huge boost for Carrick's side, with Ramsey impressing since joining from Villa and hitting a patch of superb form just before he picked up his injury.

Ramsey is one of four players in England head coach Ian Foster's squad whose clubs are preparing for the play-offs, alongside Coventry's Callum Doyle and Brooke Norton-Cuffy, on loan from Manchester City and Arsenal respectively, and Peterborough's Ronnie Edwards.

Ramsey, if fit, will join up with the England squad once Boro's play-off campaign has come to an end.

England kick-off their World Cup against Tunisia on Monday, May 22 before playing Uruguay on Thursday, May 25 - both taking place before the Championship play-off final on Saturday, May 27.

Should Boro make it to the final and if Ramsey is fit, he'd then link up with England afterwards, though wouldn't make it in time to play in the final group game against Iraq on Sunday, May 28.

The round of 16 knockout games take place on May 31 and June 1 and the quarter finals are scheduled for June 3-4. The semi-finals will be held on June 8 before the final on June 11.

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Ramsey now has a race against time to be fit to play some part in Boro's play-off campaign and the World Cup.

The 20-year-old has scored five goals and has one assist since joining Boro in the winter window.

Quizzed on Ramsey's injury last week, Carrick said: "It's unfortunate, it really is. Hopefully if AJ carries on the way he's going he'll have a long and successful career.

"Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game. They never come at a good time, but they can come at better times than others, but then that's part of the experience for him.

"It's not great for us because he's a terrific footballer and we'd love to have him to choose from but for him personally it's a tough one to take but he'll be better for it in the long run to learn from his experience and he's good enough person and stable enough to do that and benefit from it."