WHEN Michael Carrick sent his players away for their summer breaks at the end of last term, he told them to be ready and raring for their Rockliffe return - for Middlesbrough's head coach wanted to "attack the season".

And although the campaign is only two games old, Carrick is delighted with how his players have so far executed the plan and built on the positivity and momentum from the end of last season.

Boro head for Derby today (12.30pm) on a high after Wednesday night's Carabao Cup thumping of Leeds, which followed a first opening day win for a decade.

But although Carrick is thrilled with the way the first week of the season has so far played out, he says his Boro side "won't take anything for granted" at Pride Park this afternoon.

"I'm really pleased," said Boro's head coach.

"We set out at the start of pre-season and before that really, the start of the summer, for the boys to have a plan and come back fit and strong and attack the start of the season.

"It's a good start but it's just the start though. But there's a good feeling and energy in the group along with the supporters, spirits are high. We won't get carried away but we can take the confidence and belief we've built.

"There's no way we'll be thinking about Wednesday night come Saturday morning. We'll take the good feelings and positivity but this is a whole new ball game and a new game of football. We won't take anything for granted."

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Carrick expects a rip-roaring atmosphere at Pride Park for what is Derby's first home game back in the Championship after a two-year absence.

The Rams didn't get off to an ideal start, losing at Blackburn on the opening weekend, but Carrick thinks Paul Warne's side were unlucky at Ewood Park and says his players a braced for a tough afternoon's work today.

The game comes just two and a half days after the cup win at Elland Road but that doesn't concern the head coach.

He said: "We'll be fine. There's plenty of time to prepare. The boys recover well, they're in such good shape. As long as we manage training and the load, it's such an important game.

"Having the start we've had, it's been pretty good this week and we're hungry to build on that. But it's a big challenge going there. Their first home game since getting promoted, the type of team they are, how they make you work for it. It's a big physical and mental challenge and we'll have to be ready.

"It's a big occasion for them and they'll be desperate to get the result.

"The big thing for us is knowing what we're stepping into and what type of game it's going to be. It's important we've prepared right mentally for that."

Warne left Rotherham, who were in the Championship at the time, to drop to League One and take charge of Derby and Carrick has been impressed with the job he's done at Pride Park.

He said: "I fully respect his work. Any promotion in any division is a great achievement. Credit to him for that.

"They're a tough team to play against. They were unlucky against Blackburn last week and played ever so well, especially in the second half. You can see what they're about and how good a team they are and what challenge they'll pose for us."

MIDDLESBROUGH PROBABLE XI: Dieng, Ayling, van den Berg, Clarke, Engel; Morris, Hackney; Jones, Azaz, McGree, Latte Lath