JOSH Coburn and Dael Fry have both resumed Middlesbrough training, but Michael Carrick could resist any temptation to include the duo in his squad for the final day game against Watford.

Coburn has only started one Championship game since mid-November and Fry has been out since early February, so while Carrick is delighted to have both back fit, he won't risk rushing the pair - especially considering there's little on the line against the Hornets on Saturday.

While Coburn and Fry are at least in contention for Saturday's game, Hayden Hackney will again miss out because of his knee problem and Paddy McNair looks unlikely to get what would be an expected Riverside farewell, with the Northern Irishman again set to miss out.

The defender has been missing since picking up an injury during the March international break and looks to have played his last game for the club ahead of his expected exit this summer, when his contract expires.

Boro have a number of long-term absentees, including Darragh Lenihan, Tommy Smith, Riley McGree and Marcus Forss, who Carrick hopes are fit to return for the start of pre-season. That will also be the case with Tom Glover, who has had minor surgery.

"Josh has been back around training this week, Dael a little bit," said the head coach, updating on the injury situation ahead of the visit of Watford.

"Whether Saturday is a bit too soon, it's great to have them back and feeling fit and back around the group. We'll make a call on what it is, other than that it's pretty much as we were."

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Carrick says Coburn, Fry and the other long-term absentees will return for pre-season fuelled by the frustration of their injury woes this term - and believes the stars who have missed a bulk of the current campaign will "feel like new signings" ahead of next season.

"It's similar to the team and squad, finishing strong and positively really helps you going into the summer," he said.

"For the boys to be feeling fit and strong and have the issues behind them is important. It clears the mind for over the summer and refocuses for getting fit and coming back. It definitely fuels that enthusiasm and energy when you've missed a bit of football.

"There'll be a number of players who feel like new signings because a number of the lads have missed four or five months or even longer. They'll come back in pre-season and there'll definitely be a freshness in the squad."