Middlesbrough's positive transfer business will be handing Michael Carrick a welcome problem

Such is the high level of positivity coming out of Middlesbrough at the moment that seasoned names are going to have to fight extra hard for their places this season.

This is never more obvious than in the defence, where the likes of Dael Fry, Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith face a real battle to break in on their return from injury. The defensive injury crisis contributed towards Boro’s failure to reach the play-offs last season yet this situation gave extra opportunities elsewhere. Boy, did they take advantage.

As things stand, it would be no surprise if Michael Carrick started the campaign with a back four of Luke Ayling, Rav van den Berg, Matt Clarke, and Alex Bangura. All four were exceptional in the closing games of last season when Boro recorded five clean sheets and conceded just one goal on another five occasions.

READ MORE: Middlesbrough in enviable position as next moves plotted out after Michael Carrick transfer wish

Van den Berg had been a revelation all season, while Clarke was phenomenal in the run-in, particularly in leading by example. Naturally, the potential mouth-watering battle for places is exactly what Carrick is looking for. If he was to bring in yet another defender, the battle would intensity even further.

It’s more than likely that, with huge completion now guaranteed in his defence, Carrick will concentrate on bringing in another forward instead. This will further intensify the battle at the other end of the pitch following the signing of the Dutchman Delano Burgzorg.

The beauty of the signings so far is that Ayling, Burgzorg and Aidan Morris have all been secured on permanent deals, which will help greatly with the players’ ability to bond on and off the field. Boro have dipped into the loan market a lot since Carrick’s arrival with a relative amount of success.

However, the general feeling emanating from the club is that a contracted squad is the ideal way forward and this appears to be the route that Boro are taking. Promotion is definitely the target which Carrick and co. will set the squad. In this respect, it is great to know that Boro are determined to dig their feet in and not listen to offers for any of their key players.

Van den Berg, Emmanuel Latte Lath and Hayden Hackney are the ones we are worried about. Clearly all three will be big, big players in any promotion push. Holding on to this quality trio will also serve as a signal to the rest of the squad that Boro mean business this season.

The Fixture God has already been kind to Boro and handed them a great opportunity to hit the ground running in the opening six or seven games. They face none of the promotion favourites during this sequence. Hopefully this give Boro the opportunity to establish themselves in a high position in the early stages from which they can gain the incentive to continue to push on.

The toughie in the early games has arrived courtesy of the Carabao Cup, with Boro having to travel to Leeds United for a first-round derby clash. Cupties are a different proposition to League games. But the game will give Boro a clear idea of the type of challenge they will face in the struggle to secure a place in the top six.

Leeds have been made hot favourites by the bookies to win the Championship title. However, with Archie Gray departing, they are may have a problem holding on to some more of their young stars following their failure to go up last term. Burnley are second favourites but Boro are among the top six in the betting in most bookies’ lists. Hopefully the bookies have also got a whiff of the strong clouds of optimism currently emanating from the Riverside.