MIDDLESBROUGH are back at Rockliffe after a productive week in Portugal.

Michael Carrick's squad got a week of training under their belt before getting their first taste of action this summer when they took on Vitoria SC.

The three senior summer signings all made the trip, as did a handful of academy players. Law McCabe and Sonny Finch were part of the initially selected squad that travelled to Portugal and they were later joined by George McCormick, James Wilson and Luke Woolston.

Here's the background on the five promising youngsters and what could happen next:

LAW MCCABE

Law McCabe won't turn 19 until next January but the midfielder is very much seen as part of Middlesbrough's first team set-up now.

McCabe's first senior start didn't come until the final day victory over Watford but the teenager had spent the vast majority of last season in and around the first team picture and his impressive emergence led to a new long-term contract.

It's understood that McCabe has taken further forward strides in pre-season and kicked-on again.

With Aidan Morris joining a midfield department that already contained Jonny Howson, Hayden Hackney and Dan Barlaser, McCabe clearly has a tough task on his hands to force his way into Carrick's side, but, aged just 18, there's no rush. He'll benefit enormously from another year of being around such a strong crop of midfielders and will no doubt get more action.

SONNY FINCH

That Sonny Finch got his first taste of Middlesbrough action under Carrick before he'd even turned 18 shows how highly the attacker is rated by the head coach.

Former boss Chris Wilder also liked what he saw from Finch, who made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup shortly before Carrick's arrival.

The teenager's progression was halted by a problematic ankle injury last season, with Carrick and Boro's medics deciding to play the long game with Finch to ensure he returned fully recovered. It was a wise move. He made an instant goalscoring impact for the Under-21s at the back end of last term, earning first team inclusion for four Championship games and making one appearance from the bench.

“He’s playing and scoring goals now, that’s kind of what he does," said Carrick at the back end of the season.

"He always finds a way to find the back of the net. It's great to see."

Finch will be hoping to build on his impressive end to last season and the fact he was the only academy youngster to join McCabe in the initial selection for the Portugal trip was an extremely promising sign for the attacker.

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GEORGE MCCORMICK

It's been a memorable summer so far for George McCormick, who signed a new two-year contract back in May and then got the call-up to head to Portugal to join the squad last week.

And the teenage defender, who got a taste of the action against Vitoria on Saturday, is understood to have impressed Carrick and the coaching team last week.

McCormick has been with Boro for a decade having first joined as a nine-year old, and previously captained the Under-18s.

Boro are well stocked in defence so a first team breakthrough this coming season is a big ask, but McCormick will take great confidence from the way this summer has played out so far.

JAMES WILSON

Wilson signed his first professional contract with Boro on May 3 and was then handed his Championship debut the following day against Watford. What a way for the teenage defender to sign off for the summer.

It followed a hugely impressive campaign for James Marwood's Under-18s side last season, with Carrick closely watching and rewarding the youngster, who hails from Hurworth on the doorstep of Boro's Rockliffe training base.

A professional contract, a debut and a call-up for his first senior summer training trip, Wilson is clearly very highly thought of at the Riverside. With Rav van den Berg, Matt Clarke, Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry set to jostle for places at centre-half, Carrick isn't short of excellent defensive options but Wilson will benefit enormously from being around those players and training with them on a daily basis, as will be the case with new signing Harley Hunt, just 16, when he's deemed ready to step up.

LUKE WOOLSTON

Sunderland's loss has been Boro's gain where Luke Woolston is concerned.

The Hartlepool-born midfielder started out with the Black Cats but joined Boro as an Under-15 and has worked his way through the ranks since.

He was previously a member of the Boro Under-17 team that were runners-up in the PL Cup before establishing himself as a regular for the Under-18s and stepping up to the Under-21s.

And last season he broke into the first team fold for the first time. He was named on the bench on five occasions in the Championship, including the impressive 2-1 win at Leicester and draw at Southampton in March.

Later that month the 19-year-old was rewarded with a new three-year deal at Boro, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season. His previous contract was due to expire next summer.