MICHAEL Carrick opted to leave Chuba Akpom and Josh Coburn out of the Middlesbrough squad at Huddersfield Town so the duo could instead benefit from a training session at Rockliffe.

The pair were both unused substitutes for the Championship opener against Millwall at the weekend but weren't included at Huddersfield last night, but Carrick eased any concerns about either player having suffered a setback and explained his decision to leave them at home.

"There's no setback, it was just they needed another training day with it being midweek," said Boro's boss after his side's 3-2 win at the John Smith's Stadium.

"Saturday, they were on the bench because it was the weekend and it was more about getting them back in the group; tonight we didn't want them to lose a day's training and maybe come on, maybe not come on.

"They've been training today (Tuesday), they'll be training tomorrow (Wednesday) as well and hopefully we'll get them back fit as quick as possible."

Asked whether there's any chance of Akpom featuring against Coventry on Saturday, Carrick said: "It's still early to be fair he hasn't been training for that long. Hopefully, he'll be in and around the group but he's still got a bit to do to be fully fit."

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Akpom's long-term future at Boro remains uncertain as things stand with last season's star man in the final 12 months of his contract on Teesside. Carrick last week insisted he's calm about the situation and says that remains the case, despite reports in recent days that Sheffield United are preparing a £10m bid.

"From my point of view, not one bit, no," said Carrick when asked whether anything has changed with Akpom's situation on the back of the latest transfer reports.

Another player to miss out at Huddersfield on Tuesday night was summer signing Alex Gilbert, but Carrick said: "He had a niggle with his hand, but it will be a matter of days, that's all."