Middlesbrough will end 2024 in the Championship play-off places after their goalless draw with Burnley saw them leapfrog Watford into sixth.

A much-improved defensive performance from Michael Carrick’s side after recent disappointments on that front, they were ultimately unable to make use of any of their promising openings on the counter to take anything more than one point from the game.

But there were plenty of positives to take against a Burnley side who beat Sheffield United away on Boxing Day and would have gone second with a win at the Riverside. That’s even more so the case when considering Boro’s injury picture for the game, which makes up a lot of the thinking coming out of the game.

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Middlesbrough injuries mount ahead of January transfer window

Boro were without ten of their 25 registered players for the Burnley game, which doesn’t include Alex Bangura, whose long-term injury meant he wasn’t included in the squad list this season. That would take its toll on any Championship squad, without even considering the type of players missing, including Boro’s first two goalkeepers and all of their senior leaders.

With that in mind, it’s to the credit of the players that they stepped up and performed as well as they did to earn a point against Burnley, showing an excellent response to their Boxing Day implosion. Equally, it compounds the frustration of the season in general that this Boro side can be so Jekyll and Hyde from one game to the next.

One thing the injury picture does do is create some interesting questions ahead of the January transfer window, which opens in just two days time. As things stand, Boro have a full squad and are not desperate to do any business, while not completely closed to it if the right opportunities present themselves. Depending on certain injury pictures though, plans may have to change.

Goalkeeper will be the new focus, with Brynn facing three months out. With Seny Dieng also out with a troublesome hip injury that currently makes it difficult to predict exactly when he’ll be back in action, might a loan be considered in that area? Prior to Brynn’s injury, his emergence to move ahead of Dieng in the pecking order had already put question marks over the Senegal international’s future.

Interest in Emmanuel Latte Lath from Premier League clubs refuses to go away, with the striker’s agent doing little to quell speculation. But with Conway confirmed to be facing ‘weeks out’ with a hamstring injury, can Boro afford to sell Latte Lath now? Promisingly, his recent performances suggest a player who remains fully committed, even if he does understandably desire a top-flight move.

Further complicating that and also the right wing situation amid rumours that Isaiah Jones is keen to leave for more game-time is the uncertain situation on Marcus Forss. There remains no clear indication on when the Finn will return amid 18 months of huge injury frustration.

Bangura’s situation could have huge implications on Boro’s transfer business next month too. If they think he can get back before the end of the season, they must find a place in the 25-man squad for him, or his season will be over, regardless of if he is fit or not before the final game.

And on a similar note, Tommy Smith and Darragh Lenihan continue to struggle to get back to fitness having both been out since the early months of last season. Unlike Bangura, they were both included in the 25-man EFL list at the start of the season, but question marks hang over both after so long out.

It’s to the credit of Boro’s squad depth after the summer transfer window that they were able to negotiate such a tough game despite having so many key absentees. But with January around the corner, those injuries could end up influencing many decisions on a transfer front.

Truer defensive test awaits at Hull City

After conceding nine goals across the previous four games, there was a clear emphasis on Boro being more structured against Burnley. Though Carrick insisted that the gameplan wasn’t to just defend - and indeed they did enjoy success on the counter attack that they ultimately couldn’t make count due to being let down with the final piece (pass, cross or finish) - it did feel like that extra defensive focus was as much in respect of Burnley’s strength as it was recent struggles.

More balanced from a defensive view, you might argue it came at the expense of an attack that is one of the best in the Championship, but couldn’t get going against Burnley. That said, Burnley have the best defence in the division by some distance, and even then, had Boro made more of some decent openings, they may have taken more from the game.

It’s undoubted though that, in games such as the Hull City trip on New Year’s Day, Boro will want to, and be expected to, attack more. That will be when we see the true test of Boro’s defence.

A clean sheet against a good Burnley side can be used as a confidence boost, but Boro have to ensure in games where they attack more, they stay as defensively disciplined to avoid being as easy to transition on as they have in recent weeks. It sounds strange given the two sides’ respective positions in the league table, but in many ways, Hull will be a bigger test than Burnley because of the expectation.

Dael Fry excellence

In a far more committed defensive display all-round, it was epitomised by Dael Fry’s excellence and that sensational block he made to deny Josh Brownhill in the second half. On top of that, he was dominant throughout as he defended Boro’s box with real grit and determination alongside George Edmundson.

Carrick said after: “He was great. He hasn’t had a lot of football over a long period of time and that’s twice now he’s stepped in against Burnley and played particularly well. It shows the quality of player Dael is. I just thought as a team we defended terrifically though. We knew the challenge ahead and it’s about finding that every week.”

Fry’s return is a major plus for Boro after nine months out. Though an illness disrupted it somewhat, he has been excellent since coming back and was man of the match in both draws with Burnley. With Matt Clarke and Rav van den Berg so impressive at the end of last season in his absence, and George Edmundson so consistent since joining this summer, you might have questioned a month or so ago how Fry could even find an opening to get back in the side. Now he’s done so, he’s grasped the opportunity and is now himself so hard to displace.