Midfielder Jonny Howson makes a triumphant comeback to the Middlesbrough team.
Michael Carrick admits Jonny Howson was never going to play against Derby County, despite returning to the Middlesbrough squad for the Riverside win.
The veteran midfielder was back in the Boro squad for the first time this calendar year, after what has been a frustrating season of injury woe for the 36-year-old. He watched on without being used from the bench as Finn Azaz fired his side to within two points of the play-offs.
It didn’t come without a cost though, with Howson’s return potentially timely in the face of a defensive injury crisis for Boro. With George Edmundson facing three to four weeks out and Rav van den Berg still being assessed after picking up a knee injury, Luke Ayling was forced to play centre-back. But when he got injured in the second half, it was Neto Borges who finished the Derby game alongside Dael Fry at centre-back.
Therefore, asked about Howson’s return, having often put forward the Boro skipper as a defensive option if needed, Carrick said: “To be honest, he was never going to get on today. He’s not ready for that yet. But we wanted to get him back. He was double keen to get back around the group. We just felt it was a good time to do that.
“He’s not really up to speed in terms of being ready to play but it was a big thing to have him around the group and the boys benefited from that. His presence more than anything. He’s a big part of us and has a big influence on the boys. It was more for that than anything else, it’s nice to have him back.”
The bonus for Boro as far as Howson, and potentially Van den Berg and Ayling, are concerned, is that Boro do now have a free week. They’re next in action away to Swansea City next Saturday, giving Howson and maybe Van den Berg and Ayling, time for extra recovery and training.
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