MICHAEL Carrick is excited by what Finn Azaz is capable of at Middlesbrough, with the January signing celebrating his first senior call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad.

Azaz joined Boro from Aston Villa in January and started seven straight games in the Championship, scoring two goals and chipping in with an assist. He's had to settle for a place on the bench in the last four league games, but Carrick is delighted with the manner in which the 23-year-old has settled in at Boro and says the international call-up is well deserved.

"It's fantastic for him," said the head coach.

"He's settled in well, Finn. He's really hungry for success. You can see he's really driven and always after little things here and there to do well.

"It's another step, international call-ups naturally come from doing things well week in, week out.

"There's a lot more to come from Finn, I'm sure of that, I'm convinced of it. He's shown some really good signs on the pitch and in around the changing ground, so I'm looking forward to how he finishes off the season."

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Azaz impressed on loan at Plymouth during the first half of the season and Boro scouted the attacker extensively before making their January move.

Carrick says it can sometimes be difficult joining a new club in the middle of the season but has been impressed by how quickly Azaz has established himself in the Boro dressing room.

"He looks at home and feels at home," he said.

"He's had some really good moments already for us and I'm sure he'll have more before the end of the season."

Azaz was named in interim manager John O'Shea's first squad for this month's friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland. O'Shea consulted his former Manchester United teammate Carrick about Azaz.

He said: "Finn, obviously I know him form working in the under 21s, he was having a great season at Plymouth and got signed by Middlesbrough, he's doing really well, scored a couple goals for them as well.

"[He's a] really good, creative, technical option for us for us going forward as well.

"Obviously I talked to Michael about him, he's really enjoying working with him and I think he's going to add something different to the squad."

Azaz is one of a number of players set to link up with national squads during the break. Anfernee Dijksteel will be away with Suriname, Marcus Forss has been named in the Finland squad, Paddy McNair is part of the Northern Ireland squad and Seny Dieng has been called up by Senegal. Australia have named Riley McGree, Tom Glover and Sammy Silvera in their squad.

Rav van den Berg is in the provisional squad ahead of Holland's Under-21s get-together.