MICHAEL Carrick says Lukas Engel has shown he has the strength of character to be a success at Middlesbrough after the defender put his difficult start to life on Teesside behind him and enjoyed a breakthrough night in the win over Cardiff City.

Engel endured a testing start at Boro after his summer arrival from Silkeborg, with a string of unconvincing displays leading to a nightmare at Sheffield Wednesday, when he was replaced at half-time.

The 24-year-old didn't play a minute of the three Boro games that followed but was recalled to the team on Tuesday night after Lewis O'Brien and Rav van den Berg suffered injuries - and he took his chance.

The left-back teed up the opening goal for Isaiah Jones early in the second half with a teasing delivery, but that wasn't the only notable moment for Engel.

“I thought the bigger moment was the one where he stopped the goal, to be honest," said Carrick in reference to Ollie Tanner's shot that hit the post just before Boro's opener.

"He gets a touch to deflect the shot onto the post, which was a real big moment for him.

"He then sets up the goal, which is the headline moment, if you like. But I thought his performance in general was really good. I was really pleased for him, because it’s not easy to come back into the team when you haven’t played for a little bit. It was a fantastic night for him and I’m really pleased for him."

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Engel received a standing ovation when he was replaced in the last minute, with the game wrapped up by that stage after Emmanuel Latte Lath scored Boro's second from the bench.

Carrick says he never doubted Engel's quality despite his tough start, but after the Sheffield Wednesday game he sought to "look after" the defender, who was taken out of the firing line for a couple of weeks while he found his feet.

Carrick said: "Obviously sometimes when you go to a new club it clicks and everything comes easy. Sometimes it doesn't even have to be a new club, sometimes you have times when things go against you, that's football, that's life.

"You have to look after the players as well. There are times when if they're not doing the right thing of course there are consequences. I've said it enough, I can never fault the boys for their attitude. Certainly for Lukas, it's for us to get the best out of him. It's like any individual, it's up to us to get the best out of him. Sometimes it's an arm around the shoulder, sometimes it's a kick up the backside.

"Lukas has done great, he's trained well, he's kept his head down. He's focused, you can see he's got that belief and strength of character, which you need to play at this level, and he's shown it.

"I'm delighted for him tonight. Listen, there'll be ups and downs to come for everyone. The boys are in it for the right reasons and Lukas epitomised that tonight so I'm really pleased for him."