RILEY McGree is available to return for Middlesbrough against Preston this weekend but the game will come too soon for Rav van den Berg and Jonny Howson.

McGree has been missing since the opening day victory over Swansea City but is now fully fit.

And in another major Boro boost, Marcus Forss is back in training after his long lay-off with a hamstring injury, but head coach Michael Carrick won't rush the Finnish international back. Forss hasn't played since March.

While McGree is in contention to feature against Preston at the Riverside on Saturday, Carrick won't take any risks with van den Berg or Howson, who are both knocking on the door but aren't quite ready to return. That leaves Boro still looking slightly short at the back but George Edmundson is available to make his debut.

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Van den Berg hasn't played since the defeat at Derby on the second weekend of the season and Howson suffered a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup victory at Leeds.

Carrick said: "Riley is back. Marcus is back training but it's very early stages.

"He's only had one day and is not fully, fully back. He's in and around the group and it will take him a little bit of time to get up to speed but nevertheless it's great to have him back on the grass with us.

"Jonny and Rav aren't far off but aren't quite there. They won't be ready this weekend but we're hopeful that it won't be too long after that.

"We could have really gone for it and pushed it but for the sake of a game or two we don't think it's worth it over the course of a season. We'll take a balanced view on it and at the moment we're in good shape.

"We're desperate to get the boys in and around the group but we'll take a balanced view."

Carrick will be particularly patient with Forss to ensure there are no setbacks as he closes in on a return.

He said: “He’s been out for a good period of time, so he won’t be close to being in the match-day group just yet. That’s a bit of time away yet, I think.

"He needs a bit of training a getting up to speed, to feel confident in himself as well. That’s a little bit further on. But it’s great that he’s training with us and that he’s back with us, but I wouldn’t expect him to be back with us on a match-day at least for another couple of weeks."

Dael Fry, Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith are not yet ready to return.

Carrick said: "They're just a bit further away really. Dael is back out on the grass, Darragh is not far behind him, so they are just at different stages really. Tommy is a little bit further to the other boys, who are a little bit closer."

Meanwhile, Sonny Finch suffered an injury in his debut for MK Dons after joining the League Two side on loan but it's not thought to be a major problem.

Carrick said: "He played against Salford and he took a hit in the back and his hip stiffened up. Hopefully he’s OK."

Eight senior Boro players have been away on international duty, with several negotiating long trips, so Carrick will closely assess his squad over the next 24 hours before finalising his selection plans for North End.

Carrick said: "We'll definitely take a balanced view on that. We have to be sensible.

"Some have played more than others, some have done a bit more travelling. Once we've assessed that, we'll take a view on it.

"We feel that we're fortunate enough to have choices and balance in the squad that we can make those decisions. We'll have to see."