ALEX Gilbert won't be leaving Middlesbrough on loan ahead of tomorrow night's transfer deadline, with the former Brentford forward very much part of Michael Carrick's first team plans at the Riverside.

Gilbert joined Boro from the Bees last summer but had to wait until the final fortnight of the season to make his first start after a campaign on the fringes.

He did, however, catch the eye in the final two games of last term and built on that over the summer with a string of positive displays. And he was by far Boro's best performer in Tuesday night's heavy defeat at the hands of Stoke City in the Carabao Cup.

Gilbert's situation has been monitored by clubs, who were ready to act if Boro decided to sanction a loan move for the 22-year-old.

But Carrick has now confirmed that won't be the case.

"He's going to stay with us, he'll be here," said the head coach, who praised Gilbert for his midweek display.

"We had a lot of opportunities and created a lot of chances with Alex a big part of that. We could have created even more too.

"Alex did a lot of good things. It’s not a surprise. A lot of the things we saw, we know what the boys are capable of."

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Neto Borges became Boro's sixth senior summer signing when he completed his move from Clermont on Tuesday, with Boro's coaching and recruitment team delighted with their summer business.

With Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan all out injured, Boro are understood to be monitoring their options at centre-half ahead of tomorrow's deadline but there'll be no panic and no mad rush in the final hours.

Asked whether there's a chance of further incomings, Carrick said: "Who knows. There’s still time and it is a crazy window that always gets busier towards the end. But, as I’ve said, I’m pretty calm, we’re happy with the group we’ve got and I’m definitely not chasing anything in particular."

Boro aren't expecting any high profile exits but could sanction loan moves for some of their younger players if the right opportunities present themselves.

Carrick said: “We’ll assess it in the next couple of days. Tuesday was a good chance to give an opportunity to some younger players and we’ll assess one or two over the next couple of days. But at the minute, there’s nothing much to say.”