Dael Fry Middlesbrough selection hint dropped amid Hackney and Doak decisions for QPR trip

Michael Carrick will be hoping to quickly steer Middlesbrough back to winning ways after Saturday's disappointing defeat to Coventry City.

They have an opportunity to do so on Tuesday evening as they travel to Loftus Road to take on QPR. They will be without Hayden Hackney in the game as he misses out through suspension after his red card at the weekend, while Rav van den Berg will be absent too, after suffering a knee injury last week.

But with many other players returning from injury in recent weeks, and with Ben Doak hopefully fit to return to the squad after missing out on Saturday, the Boro boss will have some tough decisions to make as ever, with his Boro side. We take a look at the big selection dilemmas.

READ MORE:Michael Carrick makes Middlesbrough midfield point as he discusses Jonny Howson's importance

READ MORE:Rav van den Berg injury blow for Middlesbrough with updates on Ben Doak and Marcus Forss too

Strong Dael Fry selection hint

Dael Fry returned to the Boro bench on Saturday and while he didn't get on, he watched on as Carrick revealed his frustration with the manner of the goals Boro conceded, even though they were down a man. For Fry, having been out since February, he'll be itching to get back involved.

Such a key player for many a year now, he'll have watched on with some personal concern as Rav van den Berg established himself in the Boro side, while Matt Clarke stepped up in his absence and ended last season so strongly. With George Edmundson excelling since arriving on loan this season too, Fry could have been forgiven for questioning when an opening might come for him to get back in.

But now fit again, the Teessider could have his opening in Van den Berg's absence, with Edmundson and Clarke showing vulnerability as a pair to pace. While Fry isn't the quickest himself, he'd fancy himself in that race, and that could open the door for him.

Offering a strong hint that he could be ready to introduce Fry ahead of QPR, Carrick said: “Dael’s at that point now where he’s done a lot of rehab and a lot of time on the grass. He’s trained with us for a good number of weeks now. He had the game for the Under-21s, where he played for 45 minutes, so there’s been stages to it (his comeback), really.

"Sometimes, you’re able to map out an ideal preparation when someone comes back from being injured, sometimes it’s a case of something opening up. He’s certainly ready for it, ready to play. It would be a step up (if he was to start), but he’s done enough work and he’s confident enough, and we’re totally confident in him.

"So, if that was to happen, there certainly wouldn’t be any risk from that side of things (the injury issue). And then in terms of performance level, I wouldn’t think twice either.”

Hayden Hackney's replacement

Boro will be without Hayden Hackney due to suspension. Carrick will have three natural options to replace him, with Jonny Howson, Dan Barlaser and Law McCabe all providing midfield competition.

Howson came through his first extended runout on Saturday well. He replaced Finn Azaz after the red card to settle Boro. He certainly made a positive impact in the game and will be the obvious choice to replace Hackney. However, potential fatigue may have to be considered as he is only just back from a hamstring injury.

It does seem likely to be Howson, however, with McCabe still so young and Barlaser struggling to have enough of an impact. In turn, that will likely mean a slight switch in role for Aidan Morris too, with the USA international usually the one of the two who sits a little more than Hackney. Whether it's Howson, Barlaser or McCabe, Morris is likely to have to take on more responsibility for driving Boro forward. He did it well enough on Saturday, as Boro pushed for an equaliser despite being down to ten men.

Ben Doak fitness call

Ben Doak will be travelling to the capital with Boro after missing Saturday's clash with a fatigue-induced tight hamstring. Carrick says Boro will then make a late call on whether or not he is capable of starting the game or not.

Boro will hope so because the Liverpool loanee has quickly established himself as such an important player. Even Coventry boss Mark Robins opined that Boro missed the Scotland international at the weekend.

But Boro have a responsibility to protect Doak as well as develop him as a player, and, with a recall clause in Liverpool's hands in January, they'll be wary of doing anything that will be seen to set Doak back physically after a lengthy injury last term.

In that sense, Boro have to learn not to rely too much on the 18-year-old, and Carrick will have a decision to make if Doak can't start the game on Tuesday - with Isaiah Jones struggling for form and failing to make the desired impact on Saturday. Carrick could persevere with the Guyana international and hope his faith is rewarded. Alternatively, Marcus Forss is back fit and will travel to QPR, while Micah Hamilton can operate on the right side of the attack too.

Other potential changes in a busy week

This long trip comes in the middle of another three-game week for Boro, with potential considerations for what will be another tough game at the weekend against Luton Town - and particularly with the fact that Boro have collapsed late in their last game of three-game week on the last two occasions they've faced such a schedule (Watford and Norwich).

With that in mind, there are potential selection decisions Carrick could make, with Luton Town's team in mind. Luke Ayling returned to the side on Saturday at Anfernee Dijksteel's expense, but at 33, didn't play all three games last time. Neto Borges played on Saturday but had an illness pre-match, which is why George McCormick made the bench over Forss. Whether or not that's still having an impact on the Brazilian remains to be seen.

Further up the pitch, Riley McGree has still been managed in recent three-game weeks having struggled with injuries over the last 12 months or so. The red card meant Finn Azaz only played 20-odd minutes on Saturday so should be fine, but Tommy Conway put in another shift for his side so soon after returning from a hamstring injury. Carrick will have Forss, Hamilton, Jones, Delano Burgzorg and Emmanuel Latte Lath all craving a return to the starting line-up.