Middlesbrough forwards in focus as Michael Carrick faces crucial transfer decisions

After so much work on depth last summer, the priority for Middlesbrough this summer will surely be quality over quantity.

The unprecedented injury list justified Boro's approach to last summer, and it's also left them in what feels like a good position heading into this summer. Albeit, in ultimately missing out on a play-off finish this season, it also highlights why a little more quality will be needed this summer if they are to make the next step and challenge next term.

Attack has proven a particular issue for Boro this year and while at times their finishing has let them down, they have, particularly since the turn of the year, struggled with chance-creation. Injuries along the way to Isaiah Jones, Marcus Forss and Riley McGree have been unhelpful, but also highlights why their forward ranks could do with at least one quality addition this summer.

READ MORE: Middlesbrough midfield in focus ahead of summer with continuation hope amid inevitable interest

In sticking with Carrick's preferred formation, there are three roles behind the striker that make it ideal to have six options in total. As things stand, after the shock winter departures of Morgan Rogers and Matt Crooks, Boro have seven - but that includes underwhelming loanee Sam Greenwood, as well as Sammy Silvera and Alex Gilbert who have been limited in their chances this season.

In the case of Greenwood, there is an option to purchase the Leeds forward for just £1.5 million this summer and I've championed the exploration of that prospect previously. He's really struggled of late but is just 22 and in his first season of regular senior football. Carrick certainly seems to rate him too.

Silvera, meanwhile, has shown plenty of positivity and Carrick has described himself as excited by the young Aussie's potential as he used his first season to develop and grow. In truth, were it not for all the injuries, the 23-year-old was never intended to play as often as he has this season.

Silvera might have actually found himself in a similar position to Gilbert were it not for absentees. The 21-year-old joined Boro last season from Brentford B with the goal of breaking into senior football. But it hasn't quite transpired that way for him, with his recent assist at Southampton his first notable contribution of the season. Lined up for a loan move in January, it couldn't happen then because of depth, but could and probably should be explored in the summer.

In truth, for as optimistic as you may want to be about Silvera and the potential of signing Greenwood, the evidence of this season suggests that neither should be regular starters next season if Boro are to be realistic challengers for promotion, unless dramatic improvement is shown by either.

Isaiah Jones this week signed a new long-term contract which is a huge boost. Along with Marcus Forss - who has suffered terribly with injuries this season, their right-wing looks set. Finn Azaz signed in January and while taking his time to settle, has looked a good prospect for the ten role in recent weeks.

Riley McGree is the obvious starting left-wing roamer having been the archetype of that role. But, with just 12 months remaining on his contract, he ideally needs to sign a new deal this summer or more work than wanted will be required in seeking a replacement for the star Aussie. But given how his season has gone, it seems unlikely right now that there will be many potential exit routes for McGree this summer that would be more attractive than staying at the Riverside.

Providing he does follow Jones in committing to Boro though, you're still looking at Boro needing probably two, but at least one, new forward in the summer - not including Greenwood. There's an argument - assuming McGree doesn't have such bad luck next season if he signs a new deal - that Greenwood is an adequate backup option to him.

While his form of late has been really poor and his confidence looks shattered right now - a full pre-season, a reset for the new campaign and a confidence-boost from what would be faith shown in signing him permanently, might just lead to the young forward rediscovering that form he showed early on.

But with Crooks' shock departure for the MLS in February, Boro are still short in attack and will surely need at least one new forward in the summer. McGree has at times played the number 10 role and with the left-wing role being one that regularly floats inside anyway, like Azaz, a versatile forward who can do both roles wouldn't go amiss.

Either way, with Boro at times this season lacking the same kind of cutting edge in the final third that made them so successful on their run to the play-offs last season, they could really do with finding a player of unpredictability and end-product to complement their current options heading into next season. It feels like a key piece in the jigsaw.

You can go back and read our previous In Focus series pieces from earlier this week as we looked closer at Boro's goalkeepers, the big decisions they face in defence and the value of continuation in midfield before today's look at forwards. We return tomorrow for the final part where we look at Boro's strikers.