TOMMY Conway and Matt Clarke will both be back in action for Middlesbrough in a few weeks at the latest after the duo missed the Stoke City victory through injury.

Clarke got a knock in last week's defeat at Sunderland, while Conway picked up a niggle in training this week but Carrick says both are minor issues and he expects them to be back in action after the October international break, if not before.

Boro face West Brom on Tuesday night before travelling to Watford on Saturday and Carrick hasn't completely ruled out the chances of one or both of the players returning in the next week - but he won't rush them back.

Carrick said: “Clarkey picked up a bit of a knock at the end of the Sunderland game. We thought he’d be alright but we’ll just have to see how that settles down.

"Tommy in training this week picked up a bit of a niggle. Again, we’ll have to see with that.

"Neither were able to play today but we’ll see if they’re able to play on Tuesday or Saturday. We’re not quite sure yet, but it’s not long-term for either. At the very latest, after the international break, but they’re both pushing before then."

Boro were boosted by the return of Rav van den Berg against the Potters, with the defender coming off the bench for the first 20 minutes. Boro will now closely assess last season's Player of the Year and judge whether he's ready to start at the Hawthorns in midweek.

Riley McGree was also back in action Stoke, making his first appearance since the opening day win over Swansea and getting 76 minutes under his belt.

Carrick said: “A lot of that today was managing minutes with players and who needed them. Riley we felt had 70 minutes in him and we wanted to get Micah on the pitch as well anyway. Having Rav back was a real plus.

"I thought the back four did really well anyway as a unit. But to get Rav back, particularly at that stage of the game when we had a few set-plays to defend, was great. He gets a feel for it again, gets his distances and his rhythm back. That’s a big plus for us."

Asked whether van den Berg could start against either West Brom or Watford, Carrick said: "We'll have to see. He was doing a bit of work after the game as a bit of a top up.

"We'll see how he is now but he's definitely back involved. We'll manage him now moving forward and wait and see."

Boro's boss was thrilled after his side put last week's Sunderland frustration behind them with a comfortable win over Stoke.

Man of the Match Ben Doak set Boro on their way in the first half before Hayden Hackney wrapped up the points with a stunning strike 17 minutes from time.

Carrick said: “Really pleased. I thought all-round really, a team performance and we were really good.

"We looked really dangerous, played some really good football and controlled a lot of the game. And we controlled it today while still looking dangerous.

"In some ways, I was just as pleased with our work off the ball really. We were really good as a team, from the front to the back.

"They tried to play a similar style to us and we were conscious of the dangers that brings. But we blocked off the spaces in the middle really well, from Finn and Manu and the front four all-round really. That carried on throughout the game.

"As much as the goals and the attacking play will get the credit, and rightly so, I thought the other side of the game was really pleasing.

“There was a bit of a ruthlessness and aggression to our game, with an without a ball, that gave us a real purpose. We created a lot of space for Ben [Doak], especially first half, playing from left to right and stretching the pitch. He certainly used it and looked dangerous. On another day he might have got another goal or even two. But I thought there was a lot of good play from us."