WHEN Middlesbrough lined up to play Millwall on the first game of this season, just five of their 11 players had started in the play-off semi-final defeat to Coventry a few months earlier.

To add to that, six of their nine substitutes on the opening weekend of the current campaign were either summer signings or not involved last season for one reason or another.

In short, it was very much a new team for a new season. Boro's hand had been forced. Several loan players - key last season - had returned to parent clubs, while Chuba Akpom would leave for Ajax.

A reluctant revamp was required last summer, which resulted in a slow start to the season as the new-look team got to know each other. And while Boro look unlikely to secure another top six finish this season, the summer will look very different to last.

There'll be no overhaul required at the Riverside. Instead, there will be tweaks and key areas addressed - centre forward being the obvious priority. Right-back and central midfield will also get attention, with decisions to be made on loanees Luke Ayling and Lewis O'Brien. And with Paddy McNair's future uncertain as he nears the end of his contract, work will likely need to be done at centre-half. The future of Sam Greenwood will also be decided.

Carrick isn't yet looking beyond this season, but he believes continuity in the summer will aid his side significantly come the start of next term.

“In an ideal world, consistency and stability is what we need to build on for success," he said.

"The players need to understand where we’re going and have those connections with each other. It’s not a case where you can chop and change so many numbers so often.

"Sometimes circumstances will dictate that has to happen, like last summer. It’s not always fully under our control because there are other situations going on. But certainly, consistency and stability of a squad and group of players helps you improve and helps you improve together in order to achieve success."

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Boro head for Stoke on Saturday having dropped out of the play-off picture after three defeats in four games. Carrick insists his side still have "a lot to play for" and says his players shouldn't be short of motivation.

He said: “I think regardless of the situation now, whether you’re winning or losing, all players are playing to achieve to achieve things, and there is always a point to prove in terms of earning your place in the squad. That’s with every member of staff.

"It’s not the case that now there is suddenly extra scrutiny on anybody. That’s just the life and the business we’re in - it’s performance-based. It doesn’t change regardless. You always have to prove you should be in the team whether the team are flying at the top of the table or not. That doesn’t change and there is no extra scrutiny on any players from me at all.

“You can and can’t [carry momentum into a new season from the last]. Ideally, of course, you always want momentum and want to be in a positive mood. But in some ways, every season is different as well.

"Whatever happens, you’ve still got to go and perform and earn the right to be good enough to achieve things in the new season, regardless of what happened in the last. Right now, we don’t want to look too far ahead. We’ve still got a lot to play for this season and the longer-term plan and longer picture takes care of itself if you’re putting things in place now that really matter."