MICHAEL Carrick admits he doesn't know what the future holds for Middlesbrough midfielder Martin Payero.

The Argentinian hasn't played a minute of Championship action so far this season after his return from Boca Juniors in the summer and wasn't part of the travelling squad for Saturday's defeat at West Brom.

As things stand, the 24-year-old looks to have a real challenge on his hands to force his way into Carrick's side - a task that is likely to get all the more difficult in the next week, with Boro keen on adding a new midfielder and a No.10 to their ranks ahead of Friday's deadline.

"Individually, I don't know to be honest," said Carrick, when asked whether Payero - who is in the final 12 months of his contract on Teesside - could leave in the coming week.

"Sometimes you have to expect the unexpected at this stage. That's not Martin in particular, that's just we don't know what's going to be thrown at us. We'll just have to wait and see."

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Carrick also explained how an injury suffered by Rav van den Berg on Friday resulted in the head coach being forced to name two goalkeepers on his bench at the Hawthorns, with Tom Glover and Jamie Jones both among the substitutes.

He said:  "Rav dislocated his thumb in training yesterday [Friday] and travelled down thinking he was going to be okay. It was just too painful this morning."