MIDDLESBROUGH have a couple of injury concerns ahead of Tuesday night's game at Sheffield Wednesday, but Lukas Engel is fit to return after missing the Blackburn defeat.

While Michael Carrick didn't confirm the identity of those who are nursing knocks, the Boro head coach said a couple of his players have needed scans on injuries over the last couple of days.

Alex Bangura is thought to be one of those who's a doubt, with the defender's debut at Blackburn on Saturday cut short due to a hamstring complaint.

"There's been one or two scans going around the last day or so, as you'd expect when games are coming thick and fast," said Carrick.

"We're assessing that and we'll see who's fresh and available come Tuesday night."

After Bangura's withdrawal at Ewood Park, Engel - who missed the Blackburn game with a foot injury - is likely to come back into the side at left-back.

"Lukas has been back in training, he's available," confirmed Carrick.

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Boro head for Sheffield Wednesday still looking for their first win of the season, with the struggling Owls also winless since securing promotion back to the Championship.

The two teams are only separated by goal difference at the bottom of the Championship, but Carrick insists it's far too early to take any notice of the standings and says he doesn't feel any extra pressure.

He said: "It's not an all or nothing game by any stretch, it's another game.

"If you look at the table and you're judging that now, which is very, very early to do, and history will tell you how much does it mean at this stage?

"That's one way to look at it. For me you have to be a bit more level than that and assess the group, what's going into performances, how we're playing. One game is not going to sway my mind on that by any stretch.

"The next game is always the most important. We're searching for a good result, for a win for many reasons, but the league table doesn't hype the game up.

"You can't hide under the pillow and expect and hope everything will be fine. You have to do something about it.

"There's a way of assessing that and you have to be in the right frame of mind to do that. And the players need to be in the right frame of mind to perform, suffer setbacks, come back and be able to carry on performing.

"You have to stay level, that's the only way I know."