MIDDLESBROUGH have been handed a major double fitness boost, with Michael Carrick revealing both Marcus Forss and Dael Fry are now "ready" to put their long injury spells behind them.

Fry hasn't featured for Boro since February this year, while Forss had seven months out of action before making his return to the side with two cameo appearances from the bench against Watford and Bristol City in October.

Boro have prioritised patience with the pair, with both playing for the Under-21s in a Premier League 2 match against Aston Villa last week. Forss then followed that by getting more than 80 minutes under his belt for Mark Tinkler's youngsters in the Premier League International Cup defeat to Lyon at the Riverside on Wednesday night.

Both could now return to the first team squad for this Saturday's Championship game against Coventry City.

"Marcus played a good amount of minutes and came through really well. It's what he needed to get those minutes under his belt," said Carrick.

"The next step is to keep training, playing and getting chances of playing, just like the rest of the squad.

"You go through the whole process of rehab and get to the stage where you're ready to be in with the group and on the same level as everyone else. They're pretty much at that stage now."

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Forss and Fry will soon be joined by Alex Gilbert in knocking on the door for a return, with the former Brentford forward back in training after recovering from the knee injury he suffered in September.

Lukas Engel is still a "few weeks away", while long-term absentees Tommy Smith and Darragh Lenihan are not yet close to a return.

Carrick said: "Tommy is a little bit further off, Darragh is still a little bit further off, no more news on that really.

"Lukas, it'll be a few weeks, hopefully not too far away but a number of weeks, and Alex Gilbert is back in and around the group now so that's good to have him back."

Meanwhile, Carrick also told of how Alex Bangura is in a "good place" as he continues his recovery from a serious achilles injury.

Carrick said: "Alex [Bangura] is in and around the building, he's in an awful lot.

"He still has a little bit of time to go yet in terms of being fit but he's in really good spirits.

"Long term injuries it's important you see that. We're taking it step by step but it's great to see him around. He's smiling and he's so enthusiastic. It's great he's in a good place."