MICHAEL Carrick had a stirring message for Middlesbrough's players in the immediate aftermath of last season's play-off heartbreak - telling his squad to use the Coventry devastation as motivation and that the aim in the coming campaign is automatic promotion.

Boro's promotion hopes were ended by the Sky Blues in the play-off semi-finals, with Mark Robins' side celebrating on the Riverside pitch, just as Burnley had done when they secured promotion to the Premier League with a victory on Teesside.

Carrick told his players to use those scenes of celebration as fuel as Boro look to bounce back.

Isaiah Jones revealed Carrick's message to the Boro players as the winger reflected on the Coventry defeat in conversation with The Beautiful Game Podcast.

"It was quiet, nobody was speaking," said Jones of the scene in the dressing room after Boro's promotion hopes had been ended.

"The gaffer said, 'I can't fault you, the effort you've given us over these past seven months, look at where you've come from, 23rd in the league to play-off semi-finals. We can't ask for more'.

"He said we've had a lot of people coming to our ground celebrating. We've had Burnley coming to our ground celebrating, we've had Coventry, use that as fuel for next season. He said next season we're going to aim for automatic promotion, not play-offs but more, and I think we can get it. If we can get the right signings in, why not."

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In the podcast, Jones bravely opened up on his mental health battles last season and told of the support he received from Carrick.

On and off the pitch, the wideman has been hugely impressed with the head coach.

"Michael Carrick is a good guy," he said.

"He's a very, very, very good coach and manager. His man management, everything is spot on, he knows when to put an arm around a player and talk to him. He handled my situation the best way possible.

"As a coach, he's good. He's quiet but you feel his presence. He doesn't shout whatsoever. Look at what Chuba is doing now, you've got to praise the gaffer for that. To play him in a system and position that suits him and gets the best out of the players he's got. He's made Chuba a better player but he's not just made one player better, he's made the whole team better.

"You have Ryan Giles left-back, most assists in the Championship; Cameron Archer on loan from Villa banging in goals; Aaron Ramsey banging in goals; Riley McGree banging in goals. He's good at what he does, helping players develop. As a coach, I give him a 10/10, honest.

"Earlier in the season we weren't scoring goals. To finish the season as one of the top goalscorers in the Championship from where we came from last season, you can only big up Michael Carrick and his coaching staff, Danksy, Woodgate and Grant (Leadbitter)."

Jones and his Boro teammates reported back to Rockliffe for pre-season at the start of this week, with the young winger relishing the coming campaign.

He said: "I want to grow as a person on and off the pitch. I'm a father now. This season I want to grow as a person and get success.

"He (Carrick) just said to me, next season, be ready, after everything you've been through it's your time, that's what he said to me."