Michael Carrick says it was the right thing to let Matt Clarke leave Middlesbrough this month, and has downplayed the need for another centre-back before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Clarke’s two-and-a-half-year stay on Teesside came to an end during the week when he completed a move back to Derby County, where he previously spent two successful loans. He’s signed an initial short-term deal at Pride Park until the end of the season.

For Boro, his exit came as he had just six months remaining on his Riverside deal, though there was an option in the club’s favour to extend for a further 12 months. But having slipped down the pecking order with the return of Dael Fry from injury and the permanent signing of loanee George Edmundson, the powerful centre-back ultimately wanted more game-time in the second half of the season.

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“It was the right thing all-round,” Carrick explained. “Clarkey wanted to play games so we respected that. He's been fantastic since I've been here. When I first came in he'd come through his long spell on the sidelines and since then he's not missed a day's training really.

“He's been fit, played a lot of games and done fantastically well and his attitude and professionalism has been fantastic. It was just one of those timings, it fit everyone and Clarkey was keen to go and play.”

Boro allowing Clarke to go and play leaves them down one defender. The club were assessing their options in the remaining days of the window and decided whether or not they needed to replace Clarke. But asked on Friday if they needed a new centre-back, Carrick simply said: “Nah, we'll be alright.”

If they don’t, it will leave Boro with just three senior central defenders in Fry, Edmundson and Rav van den Berg. Luke Ayling and Neto Borges can also cover in the position, as can Anfernee Dijksteel, though his own future at the club is uncertain heading into the final days of the January transfer window.

Jonny Howson has also previously covered at centre-back in the past, while young defender Harley Hunt, who signed for the club from Swindon Town in the summer as a development signing, has impressed many in his time on Teesside so far.