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Michael Carrick has indicated that Rav van den Berg and Jonny Howson may be in line to feature in Saturday’s match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Both players have recently been sidelined due to injuries, and while the Middlesbrough manager was cautious about revealing too much ahead of the game, he hasn’t ruled either player out. However, Carrick strongly suggested that left-back Lukas Engel will likely miss the match, with summer signing Neto Borges having quickly become the preferred choice in that position.
“Jonny and Rav are getting closer, but whether they’ll be ready in time is uncertain; we’ll have to wait and see,” Carrick said.
He added that Engel has been dealing with a recurring pelvic issue throughout pre-season, and they are assessing the situation to ensure a swift return.
Forward Marcus Forss is back in training but is not expected to participate this weekend, while defenders Dael Fry, Darragh Lenihan, and Tommy Smith remain long-term absentees. On the Sunderland side, head coach Regis Le Bris confirmed that Dan Ballard should be fit to play, although Alan Browne will miss the game due to a minor knee injury, with a potential return to training next week.