MICHAEL Carrick is giving the Middlesbrough players who have been nursing niggles or battling injuries as long as possible before deciding on his team for Saturday’s game against West Brom – and while it’s not clear at this stage whether any of those who picked up knocks in the midweek cup win over Port Vale will feature, the head coach did offer an encouraging update on Riley McGree and Josh Coburn, who could potentially return to the squad.

Coburn and McGree won’t be ready to start against West Brom and the game might well come too soon for them to be involved at all, but it is a possibility, said Carrick, which is a promising development.

McGree hasn’t played for Boro since the win over Cardiff in early October because of a plantar fascia problem, while Coburn has only played 22 minutes since the Leicester win and has been absent from the squad for the last two games due to a groin issue.

There was good news on Seny Dieng, who will be out "days rather than anything longer" after injuring his thigh at Swansea. Tom Glover will deputise if Saturday's game comes too soon.

There was also encouraging news on Hayden Hackney, who is not yet in contention for a return but is expected to be back within a fortnight, raising hopes he’ll be ready for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.

Boro’s impressive Port Vale cup victory came at a cost, with Emmanuel Latte Lath, Isaiah Jones, Matt Crooks and Morgan Rogers all forced off, while Rav van den Berg missed the game with a back problem. Boro’s training ground focus since Tuesday has been on recovery, with Carrick and the club’s medics still assessing their options.

The latest concerns took Boro’s tally of injured or doubtful senior players to 14 ahead of Saturday’s visit of West Brom.

“We’re still giving the boys as long as possible to recover,” said Carrick.

“Over this period because of the injuries and a couple of suspensions, training has been quite light and to a minimum and the focus has been on recovery and keeping everyone maintained and ticking over. We’ll give the boys as long as we can to be ready for Saturday. We’re still assessing that list as it goes on.”

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Asked whether there’s the chance of any of those who’ve been battling longer term injuries returning against the Baggies, Carrick said: “Not particularly, no, not to start.

“Maybe touch and go in and around it, maybe. Maybe Josh, maybe Riley but not to the point where they’ll be ready to play.”

On Dieng, Carrick said: “It was a thigh problem. It looks like it will be a matter of days rather than anything longer."

Hackney has missed the last five games with a groin problem but is closing in on a return, with Carrick saying: “It’s not too long. It was probably four or five weeks from when he did it so he probably has a couple of weeks to go, if that.”