The quick turnaround between games means Michael Carrick is not expecting any new players back for Middlesbrough's clash with Cardiff City on Saturday, though there were positive updates on Luke Ayling, Aidan Morris and Marcus Forss.

Boro host the Bluebirds at the Riverside where they will be hoping to use their late Hull City winner as a springboard to pick up their form and cement their top-six credentials this season. However, they once again find themselves negotiating a bit of an injury crisis, as nine players missed out on New Year's Day.

Carrick was expecting to go into Saturday's game with the same squad available as he offered a fitness update after Boro's win at Hull. With Sol Brynn out for months and Tommy Conway and Jonny Howson weeks, there was at least some good news as a key trio for Boro moved closer and could be in contention for next weekend's FA Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers.

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Offering an injury update, the Boro boss said: “We’re not really expecting anyone back for the next game. I think it’s too quick a turnaround for that. We’ll see after that. Hopefully the Blackburn game we can maybe start getting some boys back for that one. At the minute, it’s kind of where we’re at.

"Luke [Ayling] is pretty close. It’s just the cut on his foot now. It was pretty bad and he had to have stitches in that. It was inside of the foot where he kicks the ball, so it’s a bit delicate and a decision in terms of how long you leave it before he starts kicking a ball again. It’s pretty straightforward in some ways, but also a bit of an annoying one if anything. We’ll see on Luke.

"Jonny [Howson] will unfortunately be out a bit longer after feeling his calf. Marcus [Forss] is back training; fully trained once with us. Aidan [Morris] is not fully back yet, but is getting there. He won’t be back for Cardiff. Possibly the cup game for Blackburn, but it’s just a case of how hard we push it.”

If the trio can make it back in time to be part of Boro's FA Cup clash with Blackburn, it would be a huge boost to Carrick's squad options for what they hope will be a strong promotion push in the second half of the season. In their absence, Anfernee Dijksteel, Hayden Hackney and Dan Barlaser have had to play a lot of football of late, while Forss could help strengthen competition at both right wing and striker, where Boro are down a man after Conway's injury. A natural finisher, the Finn has netted 17 goals in his first two seasons at Boro, but his injury frustrations started around 18 months ago and haven't really let up since.

Meanwhile, there remains uncertainty over Seny Dieng as he struggles with a hip flexor issue which is restricting his movement and keeping him out at a time when he could be reclaiming his first-choice spot in the absence of Brynn, who won't be back until March at the earliest. Boro are monitoring the situation on both keepers closely this month with the transfer window open, though Tom Glover has kept two clean sheets in two starts for Carrick's side.

Meanwhile, Saturday's game will mark the first Middlesbrough Supporters Forum Foodbank collection of the calendar year. As usual, a collection point will be set up outside the North stand ticket office between 12pm and 3pm before the Cardiff game where they will be accepting non-perishable food and cash donations. The club are also asking for donations of any unwanted Christmas presents.