TOMMY Conway is "desperate" to get back in action for Middlesbrough but Michael Carrick says it's still too early to put a timeframe on the striker's return.

Conway has been sidelined with injury since the Boxing Day draw with Sheffield Wednesday and, although he's making good progress in his rehab, he's not yet back in full training.

He won't be available for Saturday's trip to Preston, while Jonny Howson will also again be missing. The captain is slightly behind Conway in his recovery from injury.

Carrick said: “Jonny is working his way back. He’s on the grass with the sports science and rehab team. He’s not back training with us yet, but he is on his way.

"Tommy is a little bit further on. We’ll have to see how quickly we want to get him back in. He’s really pushing and he’s desperate to get back, as you can imagine. We’ll make a call on that, but he’s certainly getting closer."

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The Boro squad will be unchanged for the Preston game, with Riley McGree and Anfernee Dijksteel again absent.

Luke Ayling and Aidan Morris both came through their return to action against West Brom unscathed and are set to keep their place in the starting XI at Deepdale.

“We won’t have anyone coming back into the group for Saturday," said Carrick.

"That will be something maybe going into next week or going into the Sunderland game, we’ll have to see.

"Both Luke and Aidan reacted really well to their first starts for some time. Luke had been ill before the game as well.

"He used his experience well to cope with that and came through it well physically, with no problems. Aidan was exactly the same. Big step for him to get through the whole game, play well and feel good, so that was a big positive."

Sol Brynn, Alex Bangura, Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith are long-term absentees.