RILEY McGREE remains a major injury doubt for Middlesbrough’s weekend game with Birmingham City, but Rav van den Berg should be available to face the Blues.

McGree suffered a foot injury during Boro’s win over Cardiff in their penultimate game before the international break, and was forced to sit out the subsequent 4-0 Wear-Tees derby win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The Australian was withdrawn from international duty, meaning he missed the opportunity to line up against England at Wembley, but while he has been able to gradually step up his training programme during the last two weeks, he remains some way short of full match fitness. As a result, he is regarded as a doubtful starter at the weekend.

Van den Berg pulled up in the warm-up at the Stadium of Light after suffering a muscular issue, but having rejoined the first-team group at Rockliffe Park, the Dutchman should be contention for a place in the squad to face Birmingham.

“Rav’s trained, or at least been around the group,” said Boro head coach Michael Carrick, who will be on the touchline alongside Wayne Rooney on Saturday after his former Manchester United team-mate was appointed as Birmingham’s new boss. “Whether the game comes too quickly for him or not, we’ll have to see, but he’s on his way back.

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“Riley is in a similar position, really. We’re hopeful in terms of his progress, but again, we’ll have to see how the game goes. If I’m being honest, this Saturday’s game is probably going to come too soon for him, but we’ll just have to see when he’s ready to come back and play.”

Boro’s international contingent appear to have come through their respective matches in the last fortnight without any new problems, meaning Carrick should have a strong squad to select from at the weekend.

“Everyone seems to have come back okay,” he said. “We’re still kind of rounding them up a little bit in terms of the training schedule and who’s up to full speed, but there doesn’t seem to be any major issues.”

Matt Clarke is a regular presence within first-team training sessions again now, but having been sidelined for more than a year because of a succession of injury issues, the former Brighton defender will be gradually eased back into senior action.

“Matt’s in the same position as he was before the break, really,” said Carrick. “We’re still having to be patient with Clarkey because he’s been out for a long period of time. He’s training with us now, but we’re still taking it step by step.”

Alex Bangura is another player who is back to full fitness, and the full-back will be keen to make his mark after joining Boro from Dutch side Cambuur on transfer-deadline day.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say Alex has got himself closer to anything – he’s in the same spot as he was in before,” said Carrick. “He’s trained well. He had a setback with his injury after the Blackburn game, which was unfortunate, but it’s part and parcel of football. He’s settled in fine, and he’s looking forward to playing. He’s training well and I’m sure he’ll play a part in the games coming up.”