Boro face Leeds with absentees

MIDDLESBROUGH’S squad could find itself stretched one again next Monday when they host Leeds United at the Riverside - with Luke Ayling and Sam Greenwood added to their list of absentees.

The duo are both on loan from Leeds and therefore won’t be able to play against their parent club on Monday. Adding to the nine firstteam players who were absent on Saturday at Ipswich Town, Boro could find themselves without a full starting XI for the game - and not for the first time this season.

Boro have been hit by injury troubles all season and will definitely be without Tommy Smith, Marcus Forss and Riley McGree for the game too - with the trio confirmed as out for the season. Providing there are no new injuries, Ayling will be the only starter from Ipswich absent.

But unless some of the players who were absent return then what was already a very inexperienced bench at Portman Road will be further still in the absence of Ayling and Greenwood. Michael Carrick does have some players who he is hoping to get back before the end of the season.

Hayden Hackney made the bench for the win over Sheffield Wednesday but has missed the subsequent draws with Hull City and Ipswich Town. Tom Glover Dael Fry, Darragh Lenihan, Paddy McNair and Josh Coburn are all hoping to return to action before the end of the season too, but will be doubts for the Leeds game.

In terms of his team against Leeds, it will be interesting to see what Carrick does in terms of formation - with Boro proving strong at times this season with a back three - a tactic that has worked well for other sides against Leeds this term. However, with very little to play for, Carrick may choose to stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1.

In Anfernee Dijksteel he has a defender who could seemingly take Ayling’s spot in the starting XI whether he goes with a back three or four - though the Suriname international has struggled for opportunities of late.

With Boro likely playing for very little in the game, however, with their play-off hopes all but over and potentially mathematically so by the time they kick-off against Leeds - it might be the opportunity for Carrick to give younger players an opportunity.

Indeed, their under-21s have had a really successful season this term in the revamped Premier League 2. Victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Monday evening - with goals from Sonny Finch and George Gitau guaranteed them a play-off finish.