MICHAEL CARRICK admits he has to “get the balance right” when he selects his Middlesbrough side to face Leeds United tomorrow, but has urged anyone coming into the team to reflect on the way last season’s Carabao Cup run helped transform the fortune of a number of players.
Boro head to Elland Road in the first round of the League Cup, with Carrick admitting he is having to weigh up a number of different factors as he ponders his starting line-up.
On the one hand, he is mindful of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off in the league and has players in his squad who would benefit from game time after failing to get onto the field during last weekend’s season-opening win over Swansea. But, on the other, he is keen to maintain the positive momentum that has been generated in the last few weeks and is mindful of the 4,000 travelling fans who are heading to West Yorkshire.
“You’ve got to get the balance right,” said the Boro boss. “Certainly, we want to start the season well and build momentum. But we’ve got a squad and we want to use that. We know there are other players who are capable, and we’ve got to get the balance right.
“We have a game on Saturday - an early kick-off as well, so that’s part of the challenge - but whatever team we put out, it won’t be a case that we’re taking the game lightly. We had a good cup run last season and we’ll be trying to do something similar, albeit understand this is a tough draw.”
Last season, Boro’s victories in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup were a welcome counterbalance to their struggles in the league, and enabled the likes of Morgan Rogers and Emmanuel Latte Lath to get valuable minutes under their belt, which benefited them significantly later in the season.
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“The involvement in the League Cup was important for a number of the players last season, and that's part of managing the squad,” said Carrick. “Certain players are ready at different times during the season, and managing that is an important part of the job.
“Some might take a few games and then have a run in the team, some might have a run in the team at a different stage. It's the same every season.”
Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry remain injury doubts, with neither defender having featured in the squad against Swansea last weekend.
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