September 23, 2023. That date might not stand out initially to your or me, but it’s no doubt etched into the memory of Darragh Lenihan. That was the day that the Middlesbrough defender last played a competitive game of football.

An ankle injury suffered shortly after would require surgery. A comeback in the summer, which included a winning goal in the pre-season friendly at Gateshead, proved short-lived as tendinitis in his Achilles caused complications. There have been numerous frustrating setbacks along the way.

In that sense, with so long away from the spotlight, Lenihan might be considered Boro’s forgotten man. If he’s not forgotten what perhaps could easily be forgotten is just how important he was to the first iteration of Carrick-ball at Boro. Leadership, experience, and all-round defensive qualities made him one of the first names on the team sheet right up until the injury.

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Such is the frustration for the 30-year-old, his exact return date is not yet known. On last update, Michael Carrick spoke about both Lenihan and fellow long-term absentee Tommy Smith in saying both were some way away, casting doubt on if either would play again this season. On Wednesday, Smith confirmed he would not. After 15 months rehabbing an Achilles injury, he announced his retirement.

But speaking about Lenihan at the start of December, Carrick said: “He’s a little bit further away still. It won’t be before Christmas with Darragh, but it might be slightly after that. There’s no kind of target or deadline right now though because he’s been out so long. It’s not uncommon that when you’ve been out so long that you pick little things up along the way and it’s just a case of ticking the days off and getting through it really.”

Lenihan’s fitness and potential return comes back into focus as the January transfer window closes. Having sold Matt Clarke and not replacing him during the month we’ve all, myself included, been talking about Boro’s lack of centre-back options. Have we overlooked Lenihan’s return?

It’s one worthy of another update from the Boro boss when he next sits down to meet with the media early next week to preview the trip to Sheffield United. In the meantime, we might get a little clue on whether the defender is expected to play again this season or not when the EFL release the official squad lists in the coming days, after the closure of the transfer window.

If, and it’s a big if at this stage, the Irishman is even close to a return, he could yet end up having a big role to play in the remainder of this season. In that sense, he could even end up being one of the big winners of the January transfer window.