MICHAEL CARRICK has praised the all-round quality of Morgan Rogers’ attacking game – and is confident the summer signing will not be found wanting in front of goal if he is tasked with leading the line at the weekend.

While Middlesbrough’s recruitment team remain determined to land a new frontline forward before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, it is looking increasingly unlikely that a new attacker will be added to the squad ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Millwall.

That will mean Carrick having to go with the same group of players that signed off their pre-season preparations with a 2-2 draw against Auxerre at the weekend in a game that saw Rogers lead the line in the ‘number nine’ role.

The 21-year-old joined Boro from Manchester City earlier this summer, having spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackpool, and given that he has spent most of his career so far playing in a more withdrawn attacking role, he admits he is having to ‘learn on the job’ as he is pressed into action as a central striker.

He has not always looked a complete natural in the role during pre-season, but he caused the Auxerre defence problems at the weekend and was in the right place at the right time to claim a late leveller after Riley McGree’s initial shot had been saved.

Carrick has been working with Rogers on the training ground to try to help him adapt to his new role, and is adamant the youngster possesses all the attributes needed to succeed as a ‘number nine’.

“He’s (Rogers) a good finisher,” said Carrick. “Technically, he’s a really good finisher, it’s just that number nines, strikers who live and make their living in and around the box, thrive off chances. It’s a slightly different mentality to have, but he has an awful lot more to his game than just that.”

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Nevertheless, until Boro are able to add to their squad, a large amount of goalscoring responsibility will be placed on Rogers’ shoulders.

Alex Gilbert, who is an alternative option for the weekend, is arguably even more of a number ten rather than a number nine despite scoring two goals during the pre-season period, while Josh Coburn, who is back in the fold after his loan spell at Bristol Rovers last season, is unavailable because of injury.

Rogers is set to start the season as Boro’s main attacker, with Carrick admitting he will need to balance the desire to make runs outside the 18-yard box with a need to ensure he is in and around the goalmouth when opportunities present themselves.

“It's about getting the balance really of having that killer instinct when he’s in and around the box and playing like he normally does when he’s outside the box,” continued Carrick.

“It's not always easy to get that, and he's got so much more to his game. He’s not solely a box striker – we’ll use him as we feel we can get the best out of him.”

The countdown to Saturday’s season opener is well and truly under way, with Boro officials having revealed yesterday that the club have already sold more than 26,000 tickets for the meeting with Millwall. Season-card sales for the new campaign currently stand at just below 21,000.