Middlesbrough have rediscovered some form in recent weeks but still have a mountain to climb if they're to force their way into the top six.

Boro are currently seven points outside the play-offs with eight games to play.

Is a top six finish still a possibility? Which games will be key in the run-in? What are the areas of promise and concern for Michael Carrick? And what are the summer transfer priorities? Scott Wilson and Dominic Shaw discuss:

Did Boro’s play-off hopes disappear with their 0-0 draw against Blackburn?

Scott Wilson: Realistically, they’d probably gone away, but it certainly felt as though dropping two points last time out has left them with too much to do. They’re seven points off the play-off places with eight games to play, so in theory, six or seven victories might see them squeak in. It’s hard to see them stringing that kind of a run together though, particularly given the difficulty of the games they have left, and even if they do, there’s still a chance one of the sides above them could win just as many matches.

Dom Shaw: That it's even been a point of discussion at all is quite something when you consider the manner of the defeats to Plymouth and Stoke. It's worth pointing out here that at this stage last season Sunderland were in exactly the same position as Boro, seven points adrift with eight games to play, and they made it on the final day. So it can be done. But Boro, realistically, will need to probably win six of their remaining fixtures. That's a big ask.

What are the key games to come?

SW: A win at Southampton on Good Friday is surely essential if Boro are to keep any form of play-off hopes alive, but that’s not the only game against one of the big boys still to come. Boro also have to go to Hull and Ipswich in their remaining eight matches, and host current league leaders Leeds. If they were to win even three of those four matches, they would thoroughly deserve to gatecrash the top six.

DS: In a 10-day period in April, Boro play Hull, Ipswich and Leeds but to still be in with a sniff of a top six finish at that stage, they'll surely have to take at least six points from the games against Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea. That game at Southampton on Good Friday is pivotal because a win could act as a springboard but defeat would be hard to recover from. Boro can at least take heart from their record against the top teams this season ahead of their trip to St Mary's.

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What are the areas of promise and concern at Boro ahead of final stretch and summer?

SW: The last four matches have provided a welcome reminder that the core of Boro’s squad is strong. Seny Dieng is a fine goalkeeper, Rav van den Berg could be a superstar at the back, Jonny Howson and a fit Hayden Hackney are an excellent midfield unit, and the likes of Riley McGree, Marcus Forss and Finn Azaz all have something to offer in the attacking-midfield positions. The lack of a natural striker has been a problem all season though, and even with Emmanuel Latte Lath now back to full fitness, Boro desperately need to recruit a proven goalscorer in the summer. That’s been the case for a number of transfer windows though, and they haven’t been able to find a solution to the problem yet.

DS: There was an encouraging injury update from Michael Carrick ahead of the international break, with the boss hopeful at least one or two of Josh Coburn, Hayden Hackney, Dael Fry and Alex Bangura will be ready to return after the break.

But with boosts comes blows. We still don't know how serious Rav van den Berg's injury is and Riley McGree was forced off in the early stages of Australia's victory over Lebanon on Thursday with a foot problem. There was the Marcus Forss scare against Blackburn as well.

What are the early transfer priorities for Boro in the summer?

SW: As outlined above, a number nine. Boro’s recruitment team have known all season long that a centre-forward was going to be the priority in the summer, so you’d like to think that they’ve got pretty firm plans already in place for what they’re going to try to do. Beyond that, a central-defensive partner for Rav van den Berg would seem to be another key area of interest. Speaking of van den Berg, holding on to the youngster could be an issue this summer, given the rate at which he is developing. And of course, the same could well be true of Hackney.

DS: Top priority is clearly a striker, maybe two. Boro have decisions to make on loanees Luke Ayling, Sam Greenwood and Lewis O'Brien. Depending on those decisions, a right-back, central defender, central midfielder and attacking midfielder will all be on the club's wishlist this summer. There's also the matter of keeping hold of van den Berg and Hackney as well.

Van den Berg has been a real success story this season and will only get better.

What’s your predicted finishing position for Boro?

SW: 9th

DS: 8th