MICHAEL Carrick says Alex Gilbert will "definitely" get opportunities to play for Middlesbrough in the coming weeks - and has suggested he will resist any temptation to send the former Brentford man out on loan in January.

Gilbert struggled for game-time in his first season at the club but impressed and offered some promising flashes of his quality in a string of outings at the end of the campaign.

However, he's been limited to just 34 minutes of Championship action so far this season. The 22-year-old played well in the Carabao Cup victory against Leeds in August and was Boro's best player in the heavy defeat to Stoke in the following round, but then suffered a knee injury that ruled him out for two months.

With Boro well stocked in attack and Finn Azaz having nailed down the No.10 spot, Gilbert has made just two substitute appearances since his return from injury - but Carrick says he still has a role to play.

"Alex has just had an unfortunate run with his injury," said the Boro boss.

"He had a good impact at the start of the season when he played some games and came off the bench. He looked really promising, then had a setback. I'm pleased with Alex.

"He'd like to have played more in the time he's been here but he's definitely moving in the right direction."

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Asked whether Gilbert would benefit from regular football out on loan in the second half of the season, Carrick said: "Not necessarily.

"There's definitely opportunities for him to play here. There's no reason why not."

Gilbert is most comfortable playing at No.10 and while Carrick has rotated his attack throughout the first half of the season, Azaz has been a constant in that central attacking midfield role.

Carrick said: "I guess that's how the squad goes and the flow of it. Then certain times we'll rotate and freshen things up.

"It depends on form and the feeling of it and the individual. Some players have played a lot more than others but it doesn't diminish their importance."