MICHAEL Carrick insists his Middlesbrough side will get "stronger" in the coming weeks as his new signings settle after a busy January transfer window.

But the head coach admits it's now up to him and his staff to "make it work".

Kelechi Iheanacho and Samuel Iling-Junior both arrived on deadline day to wrap up a busy month of trading on Teesside, with Emmanuel Latte Lath leaving for Atlanta United, though that move hasn't yet been confirmed.

Mark Travers, Ryan Giles, George Edmundson and Morgan Whittaker also came through the door in January, leaving Boro in a "good place", says Carrick.

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Carrick now has a full week on the training pitch with his players ahead of next Wednesday's trip to Sheffield United, a crunch game for Boro after Monday night's defeat to Sunderland left them outside the top six on the back of just two wins in their last nine games.

Despite that form, Carrick remains confident on the back of the window and with 16 league games to play.

“I think we’re in a good place as a squad," he said.

"There has been a lot of change as a squad that leaves us in a good place. Tonight was one of those games at the end of the window where there are new faces and different challenges with that. But between now and the end of the season, I think we’re positioned well to get stronger. We’ll get the boys settled in and it will leave us in a good place.

“That’s the challenge [knitting it all together]. We’ve got good players and I think we have a good base to work from. It’s now up to all of us to make that work.”

Iling-Junior made his debut from the bench against Sunderland after Iheanacho was unveiled to fans before kick-off. The former Leicester and Manchester City striker will compete with Tommy Conway for the striker spot in Carrick's side, with Latte Lath set to be unveiled as an Atlanta United player after a £22.5m deal was agreed with Boro last week.

“He’s not a replacement," said Carrick of Iheanacho's arrival and Latte Lath's imminent exit.

"It’s never one player for one player. It’s a collective responsibility. Tommy has scored a good number of goals when he’s been fit this season - good minutes per goal ratio. We’ve got enough throughout the frontline - creating goals, scoring goals.

"That’s not the issue of why we aren’t getting enough points.

"We’re delighted to get Kelechi in. His quality is pretty obvious and he knows what it takes to be successful at this level from last year. He played in the Premier League for a number of years. He’s a quality, quality player and we’re really happy to have him."