Middlesbrough injury update with McGree and Forss boosts and Van den Berg and Howson close

Riley McGree and Marcus Forss have both returned to training for Middlesbrough during the international break, while Rav van den Berg and Jonny Howson are close to returns but are unlikely to be involved against Preston North End.

McGree should return to the Boro squad for the game at the Riverside this weekend, having been absent since starting the opening game of the season against Swansea City. Forss, however, will not return to the match-day squad for a couple of weeks at least yet, having been absent since pulling hamstring back in March.

Previewing Saturday's clash with Preston, Carrick updated: "Riley is back. Marcus is back training but it's very early stages. He's only had one day and is not fully, fully back. He's in and around the group and it will take him a little bit of time to get up to speed but nevertheless it's great to have him back on the grass with us."

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Van den Berg and Howson have both been absent for Boro's recent games, with Howson suffering a muscle injury in the cup win over Leeds United, while the Dutch defender suffered a groin issue late on against Derby County. The absences have left Boro's defence looking makeshift for the last three games, though the arrival of George Edmundson has eased the pressure to rush either back.

"Jonny and Rav aren't far off but aren't quite there," the Boro boss continued. "They won't be ready this weekend Jonny and Rav but we're hopeful that it won't be too long after that. We could have really gone for it and pushed it but for the sake of a game or two we don't think it's worth it over the course of a season.

"We'll take a balanced view on it and at the moment we're in good shape. We're desperate to get the boys in and around the group but we'll take a balanced view. George has trained all the way through and he’s fit."

Boro aren't expected to have any new injuries, after being without ten players for the last game against Cardiff City before the international break. That will be a positive after eight players went away with their countries for games over the last ten days.

Carrick said: "Everyone who went away has come back fit. All good. We'll definitely take a balanced view on that. We have to be sensible. Some have played more than others, some have done a bit more travelling. Once we've assessed that, we'll take a view on it. We feel that we're fortunate enough to have choices and balance in the squad that we can make those decisions. We'll have to see."

Meanwhile, on the players a little bit further away - Tommy Smith, Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry - Carrick concluded: "Yeah, just a bit further really. Dael is back out on the grass, Darragh is not far behind him, so they are just at different stages really. Tommy is a little bit further to the other boys, who are a little bit closer."