MICHAEL CARRICK felt Morgan Rogers’ performance as a second-half substitute was one of the main positives to emerge from Middlesbrough’s 2-0 home defeat to Stoke City.

Boro were already trailing by two goals when Rogers left the bench in the 61st minute to replace the disappointing Sam Greenwood.

He was unable to change the course of the game, but his pace and running behind the Stoke defence at least provided his side with the kind of attacking spark that had been missing prior to his introduction.

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He had a shot saved by Jack Bonham and also fizzed in a dangerous low cross that was only narrowly missed by Isaiah Jones, and will hope to have done enough to secure a return to the starting line-up when Boro take on League One side Exeter City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Carrick said: “Morgan did well. He had a chance, and he also put a really good ball across the face of goal.

“As I keep saying, when the boys are coming off the bench, they have to get into the rhythm of the game and try to be a positive influence. They’ll all get the chance at some stage, and I thought Morgan was a real plus.”

Carrick introduced Alex Gilbert for his Championship debut in the closing stages of yesterday’s game, and also brought on Anfernee Dijksteel for his second substitute appearance since suffering a serious leg injury in pre-season.

The Boro boss said: “It was nice to get Alex onto the pitch for his first game in the league. It was good to get him on. It would obviously have been much nicer in other circumstances, but it’s a step and a positive to take from the day.

“It’s also good to get Anf (Dijksteel) back after having been out for a bit. He’s back now and getting more minutes. There’s always positives to take, it’s just the result is obviously the thing that lets us down.”