Michael Carrick encouraged Jonny Howson to join Middlesbrough supporters in the away end at Hull City on New Year's Day - telling the Boro skipper to go and enjoy the experience.

Howson was in the away end at the MKM Stadium as Boro left it late to start the New Year with a victory thanks to a 93rd minute Alex Gilbert winner. Prior to that, realising the Boro captain was among them, Boro fans serenaded Howson while requesting he give them a song. His appearance in the away end, however, came after he suffered another injury blow that is expected to keep him sidelined through the early weeks of January.

But in dealing with the disappointment, Carrick said Howson approached him ahead of the game about the possibility of going to the game as a supporter. It's something Carrick himself did with Manchester United in the period between leaving the club's coaching staff and becoming Boro boss, while he's also mentioned a couple of times how his children and wife are often in the away end of Boro games now too.

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Asked about Howson's surprise appearance at Hull, the Boro boss said: “Jonny’s struggling with his calf at the moment. He felt that and is probably going to be out a bit longer. It’s unfortunate. It was nice to see him take that opportunity. I spoke to him about it the other day - we had the conversation about him going into the away end. I told him he had to do it and that I was all for it. I’ve done it myself in the past with my son and daughter. I said ‘You’ve got to do it. You’ll enjoy it’. I hope he didn’t leave early!”

Howson appeared to enjoy his evening with the Boro fans as he joined in with chants to get behind his team-mates. He complied when asked to give them a song, even shushing them before starting a chant of 'You Are My Boro'. Hopefully he didn't leave early too as Gilbert fired Boro's late winner before special scenes after the game as players and coaching staff celebrated with the sold-out away end.