Marcus Forss will be back in the Middlesbrough squad this weekend after enjoying a week of training ahead of Blackburn Rovers' visit.

Boro host Rovers in the FA Cup third round this weekend and do so with nine players still absent, including Aidan Morris, Luke Ayling and Jonny Howson. But having suggested last weekend that he wouldn't rush any player back for this game given priorities this season are in the league, Forss has ultimately moved himself into a position where he can return - most likely from the bench.

The Finnish forward has had a really difficult period with injuries and it was in a home game against Blackburn last March when he injured his hamstring not long after returning from a frustrating injury which has ultimately derailed the first half of this campiagn for him too.

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But offering a positive update ahead of the cup clash, Carrick said: "Marcus is back in the squad on Saturday. He's been training for a number of days now. He was out for a few weeks but he's back fit. The others are slowly coming back. We'll make a call on it for this week. Aidan and Luke will be more next week, they're a little bit further away. We'll be a little bit careful with some of them this week."

Forss is expected to be the only new players back in the squad as Carrick sticks to the cautious stance he gave after Cardiff on Morris and Ayling, who will hope to push their case for next weekend's return to league action at Portsmouth. Seny Dieng, Tommy Conway and Jonny Howson are still at least a couple of weeks away, while Tommy Smith, Darragh Lenihan, Sol Brynn and Alex Bangura are longer term absentees.

Though Forss returns, the injuries do potentially provide opportunities for other players, despite the fact that Carrick insists they're approach to wanting to win the game will be the same as any other. A number of fringe players and academy stars could be in line to make the squad this weekend.