MICHAEL CARRICK admits he might have to restrict Aidan Morris’ game-time over the course of the season to guard against the risk of the Middlesbrough midfielder suffering burnout.

Morris, who is currently on international duty with the United States, joined Boro in the summer from MLS side Columbus Crew.

Prior to crossing the Atlantic to join the Teessiders, he was playing with Columbus in the US domestic season, which began in February 2023.

Given that he spent much of the early part of this year also playing for Columbus in the Concacaf Champions League, he has effectively been playing non-stop football for more than a year-and-a-half.

The fact he stepped straight from competitive action in the MLS into pre-season action with Boro almost certainly helped him the ground the running earlier this summer, to the point where Carrick felt happy to promote him straight into the starting line-up when Jonny Howson suffered an injury in the opening week of the campaign.

However, while Morris’ previous workload meant he was match-sharp when he moved to England, his lack of a summer break means Carrick will be doing everything he can to ensure the midfielder does not suffer any problems because of over-exertion in the remainder of the campaign.

“We’ve got to be mindful of that (that Morris played in the bulk of the MLS season before signing), and we certainly are,” said Carrick, whose side return to action when they host Bristol City this weekend. “Obviously, when he signed for us, it was the start of pre-season, so there was an in-between period.

“He wasn’t going from one league constantly playing, straight into another league and constantly playing. Pre-season, for six or seven weeks or so, offered him a bit of down time in terms of switching off from the ferociousness of regular league games.

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“So, he did have that period over the summer, but equally, it is something that we are conscious of and we’ll manage as we go through the season.”

As well as handling the demands of his packed playing schedule, Morris has also had to deal with the challenge of leaving his homeland to move to a new country.

The midfielder does not turn 23 until the middle of next month, but having moved around a lot himself as a young player, Carrick was always confident Morris could cope with the off-field changes involved in a move to Middlesbrough.

“He left home at 15 to get his career started, so it is something he’s done before,” said the Boro boss. “It’s similar to myself in some ways - I left Newcastle to move to London when I was 15 and, as tough as it is when you’re young, it helps you grow up and gets you used to it.

“He’s jumped a bit further away from home this time, but still, it’s a similar environment in terms of being here to play football. He’s got that about him.

“It’s not easy and I’m not saying it’s all been straightforward because being so far away from home on your own is tough. But I think you can see how he’s playing his football - the brightness and the sharpness and happiness really, you can only do that if it’s coming from a good place, so credit to him for that. And, also, credit to the boys for creating that environment for him to easily settle into as well.”

Morris has slipped seamlessly into life in the Championship, striking up an immediate relationship with his fellow central-midfielder Hayden Hackney. With things going well on the pitch, it has made it easier for the American to feel comfortable away from the field of play.

“We all deal with things in different ways,” said Carrick. “I think getting your mind on a routine, the day-to-day and your day job, if you like, focuses the mind and keeps you positive. Certainly, playing games and playing well, feeling part of something, really helps and he looks like he’s in a really good place at the moment.”