Middlesbrough are likely to be without both Marcus Forss and Riley McGree for Friday's trip to Southampton, while Michael Carrick isn't expected to welcome any returning players to his starting line-up for the game either.

Forss limped off in Boro's last game against Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago with a hamstring strain and was therefore forced to miss Finland's crucial Euro 2024 qualifier with Wales.

McGree, meanwhile, suffered an injury while on duty with Australia and returned earlier than expected to be assessed.

Both look set to miss Friday's game at St Mary's as Boro continue to assess the pair with the help of specialists.

And they're unlikely to welcome any other players to their starting line-up at least, with hopes that Hayden Hackney, Dael Fry, Josh Coburn and Alex Bangura would use the break to make the step up to being ready not quite successful.

Updating on Boro's injury picture as the international break comes to an end, Carrick said: "Obviously he came off.

He missed going away.

It's another one at the moment we're assessing and waiting.

He's been scanned and seeing different people so we'll see how bad it looks.

We're just giving him as much time as possible.

"Riley's not been back in the country long, so we're still assessing that, scanning it and seeing where he is and seeing if we can get him back involved.

It's not exactly the same issue [plantar fasciitis] as before.

"As for the boys returning to training, kind of yeah, but not to the point where anyone is really particularly ready to come back just yet.

Hopefully it won't be too long.

"The fresh injury blows for Boro could leave their squad a little stretched for the trip to Southampton.

That's because it comes 24 hours earlier than a standard Saturday 3pm due to it being the Easter weekend.

It means that many of their players were only returning to club on Wednesday, having played on Tuesday, with Australian duo Sammy Silvera and Tom Glover having the most travelling to do.

There wasn't as far to travel for Paddy McNair (who played in Glasgow on Tuesday night), Anfernee Dijksteel (who played in the Netherlands), Seny Dieng (In France) or Finn Azaz (in Dublin), but it nevertheless leaves them all with minimal time to get back in the group before the team travel to Southampton on Thursday.

"That day can make a difference," Carrick admitted of playing Friday rather than Saturday.

"I know Riley wasn't away but Sammy and Tom have been away and it's a long way.

It does make things more challenging.

The boys mostly who've been away are experienced at it and used to it so it's just something you deal with and get used to.

"We still prepare for the game, we've had enough boys who have been in and around it and who are prepared anyway.

You just have to adapt and be a bit more flexible.

Training has been good.

We trained three days last week and then came back in on Monday so the boys could have some time off.

"We managed to have some of the younger lads training with us which has been good for them to come up and have the experience and see what it's like to train with the first team and for us to work with them.

It's really important we do that.

It's been really enjoyable, the lads that have been here have worked well and prepared for the next set of games.

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