MICHAEL Carrick knows what Middlesbrough captain Jonny Howson is going through right now.

Howson has been a driving force for Boro since joining the club in 2017 and has racked up more than 300 appearances.

Rarely have injuries forced him into spells on the sidelines. He started 35 of Boro's 46 Championship games last season and 43 in the two campaigns prior.

It's part of the reason it came as no surprise whatsoever when Howson opted to play on at the end of last season and signed a new one-year contract at Boro.

But things have been different this season for the frustrated midfielder, who has been limited to only five Championship starts. He picked up a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup win over Leeds back in August, and after a couple of months on the sidelines returned only to suffer a further setback. He's missed the last month of action with a calf problem.

But in boss Carrick, who Howson has a strong relationship with, Boro's skipper can call on the advice and support of someone who understands how he's feeling.

Carrick, like Howson, went through his career with a fine fitness record, but his appearances were limited in what turned out to be his final season as a player because of an irregular heart rhythm.

“It’s challenging for him. I don’t really like talking about myself, but I understand it because I was there and have gone through exactly what Jonny is going through at the moment," said Boro's boss.

"Towards the later stages of your career, it’s frustrating to miss out through injury. Especially for someone like Jonny who does everything he possibly can to get the best out of himself and give him the best possible chance of staying fit.

"Football is tough at times and throws things back at you. Over this spell, it’s been a tough one for Jonny. But he’s on his way back and he’s doing everything he can to get back and have a big finish to the season."

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How, then, did Carrick deal with the difficulties when he faced a situation similar to Howson's now?

“I think there is an element of you can do what you can do," he says.

"You can’t be too harsh on yourself. You can give your best but, for whatever reason, football can throw up things. It’s kind of new for Jonny, and it was for me too because neither of us had a lot of injuries throughout our career. That’s a positive.

"You can only do what you can do ultimately though. He does that and he’s an unbelievable example to any player in terms of how you construct a career, how you have longevity in football and how you still play at the age he’s at now.

"That doesn’t just come naturally, there is a lot of work has to go into that. He’s still working and still has that fire and spirit to push for a come back. We’re hoping he’ll be fit again soon."