MICHAEL CARRICK expects to receive an early Christmas present with Hayden Hackney set to return to the Middlesbrough line-up in the next couple of weeks.

Hackney has missed Boro’s last three matches because of a hamstring injury, and is not expected to be involved in Wednesday’s home game with Hull City.

However, his problem is not a long-term one and he should be back in the fold ahead of the Christmas programme, with next week’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at Port Vale a potential return date.

“We’re hoping Hayden will be back before Christmas,” said Carrick, whose side will be looking to bounce back at the Riverside on Wednesday after losing at home to Ipswich Town at the weekend. “It’s definitely not long term. There’s a few of them out at the moment, but it is what it is.”

Carrick does not expect to have any of his injury absentees back available to face Hull, with Paddy McNair, Riley McGree, Marcus Forss and Lewis O’Brien still unable to take part in full training. Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith are set to miss the remainder of the campaign.

Anfernee Dijksteel and Isaiah Jones return to the squad after suspension though, and Dael Fry came through Saturday’s game unscathed as he returned from his own injury issue.

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“We seem to be okay coming out of the weekend,” said Carrick. “I never like to get too carried away at the moment because, as it happens, there has always been something around the corner.

“But certainly, as we stand, we’re not too bad and obviously we have Izzy and Anf coming back from suspension too, which adds to the group. I don’t really think we’ll have any others back though. I think we’ll continue as we are, which is fine.”

Boro came up short as they lost to Ipswich on Saturday, but despite the current number of absentees, Carrick remains adamant his side is capable of taking on anyone in the Championship, as highlighted by their win over leaders Leicester City in their previous home game.

“The team we had out on the pitch on Saturday was a good team,” he said. “We keep having to make a few tweaks here and there, which does make a difference in terms of consistency because of wavelengths and new partnerships. But as a group of individuals, quality-wise, we’ve got enough to win any game.”