RILEY McGREE will be back in the Middlesbrough squad for Saturday’s home game with Bristol City, with Michael Carrick happy the Australian is “back to full speed” following his Asian Cup exploits.

McGree had been nursing a foot injury prior to leaving to represent his country in Qatar, and while Sammy Silvera was parachuted straight back into the matchday squad for last weekend’s derby draw with Sunderland after Australia’s exit at the quarter-final stage, his compatriot was not selected for the game.

He has trained fully this week though, and is set to return to the squad for Saturday’s game at the Riverside.

“Riley is fine and fresh,” said Carrick. “He was just finding form before he left us really. It was great to see him back and you could feel then that he looked back to himself.

“He’s come back from the Asian Cup fine. He managed to get minutes over there and come back and trained with no issues. It’s just a case of getting him and Sammy back up to speed now they’re in and around the group.

“He’s been an important player since I got here. He’s another of the boys who is capable of playing right across the frontline. He gives us something a little bit different and we’re looking forward to having him back involved and getting him firing.”

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Marcus Forss has been passed fit for Saturday’s game after suffering a knock in the closing stages of the draw with Sunderland, while Seny Dieng is also pushing for a return for action after stepping up his recovery from the thigh injury that forced him to make a premature return from the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast.

“Marcus is fine,” said Carrick. “He’s been alright with no problem. We’ll have in and around the same squad. We’ve got good options with Riley back in the squad now and obviously Sammy coming back into it too.

“It’s great to have them back. Izzy (Jones) is further away, but Seny is back in and around it training and Manu (Latte Lath) will be back in the not-too-distant future.”