MICHAEL Carrick has defended Seny Dieng and insists he's happy with the performances of his Middlesbrough goalkeeper so far this season.

Dieng joined Boro in the summer of 2023 from Queens Park Rangers and quickly established himself as first choice, enjoying an impressive enough first campaign on Teesside.

But the Senegal international has had a mixed start to the current campaign and was caught out at his front post for Kellen Fisher's fortuitous equaliser at Carrow Road on Sunday. Dieng was also questioned after Edo Kayembe's equaliser for Watford against Boro at the start of last month.

Dieng has averaged 1.3 saves per 90 minutes so far this season, the lowest of all regular starting goalkeepers in the Championship, but, in the keeper's defence, Boro have, on the whole, defended well and aren't allowing opposition sides many opportunities.

However, when sides are getting shots away on Boro's goal, Dieng's 55% save percentage rate ranks him 23rd in the division. And he's also the 23rd ranked keeper this season when it comes to goals prevented.

Carrick, though, isn't concerned about his goalkeeper.

"I don't think Seny is any different," he said.

"As a team defensively we've defended pretty well. Some goals have gone in where sometimes you hold your hands up and say there's only so much you can do.

"The goalkeeper is like any other position, things go well for you and there are times when you think you could have done a bit better. That's just football really. But largely in terms of each player and the group, we're happy with the way things are going."

RECOMMENDED READING:

Boro are well stocked between the sticks, with Sol Brynn having impressed since his return from a Leyton Orient loan spell in the summer and earning a new deal last month and Australian international Tom Glover waiting in the wings.

Carrick has shown his willingness to make big selection calls, with Emmanuel Latte Lath and Luke Ayling both dropping to the bench in recent weeks, but a change between the posts still feels unlikely for Boro's Championship game against Coventry City tomorrow.

“Ruthless is maybe strong," said Boro's head coach of his recent selection calls.

"That’s why we have the squad and the group of players we do.

"It’s not like we fall out all of a sudden or anything like that. It’s just picking a team week to week, game to game and the boys, whenever we change things around, react fantastically well. It doesn’t have as big an impact as you might think."