Middlesbrough predicted team vs Blackburn Rovers as Michael Carrick faces selection quandary

Michael Carrick will have some big calls to make with regards to his team selection ahead of Middlesbrough's clash with Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday evening.

As well as assessing respective ankle issues for Hayden Hackney and Ben Doak, the Boro boss revealed that an illness, which kept Seny Dieng out of Saturday's victory over Oxford United, is afflicting other players in the squad. Understandably not wanting to give too much information to the opposition, he didn't reveal who the players were.

Carrick was hoping the situation improved by Wednesday evening, as he was set to make some late calls on the availability of some players. It makes predicting his starting line-up for the Blackburn game difficult. But with the Oxford win and fine recent form in mind, here's how we predict Boro will line-up against Rovers.

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GK - Sol Brynn - Having missed Saturday's game through illness, it's unknown at this stage whether Dieng will be available again for this one. But having come into the side at Oxford for his league debut, Sol Brynn was excellent and deserves to keep his place, at least to allow Dieng the time to fully recover.

DR - Luke Ayling - With three games in the space of seven days, it's likely Anfernee Dijksteel may play one of the next two games. Carrick admitted ahead of this one that while injury will always leave you needing to be flexible, he does try to plan out weeks as far as team selection is concerned. Looking at the next two opponents, Hull appear to have the pacier wide men, which might make Dijksteel better-suited to Saturday's game.

DC - George Edmundson - Edmundson continued his fine Boro form and, having already had the illness ahead of the international break, the hope will be that he isn't one now suffering from it ahead of this one. Just one yellow away from a suspension now, he has to tread carefully.

DC - Matt Clarke - Dael Fry waits in the wings to try and regain his place in the Boro side. But, as things stand, Boro are winning and Edmundson and Clarke are playing well together, so, unless illness is a factor, it's hard to see Carrick making the change.

DL - Neto Borges - Borges is another, like Edmundson, who's already had the illness, as he was forced to miss the Luton game before the international break. The Brazilian was back in the side at Oxford and while by no means spectacular, he continues to prove a reliable addition who will hopefully continue to grow.

CM - Dan Barlaser - Asked about Hackney's fitness ahead of this game, Carrick said the Teessider was feeling positive after missing out at Oxford. However, Boro did well at Oxford, with Barlaser and Howson highlighting Boro's strength in depth. Hopefully Hackney can return to the bench, but there seems little need to risk further complication by starting him.

CM - Jonny Howson - For the same reasons as above, it seems unlikely, unless required, that Hackney will start on Wednesday evening. With Howson still on the comeback trail from an injury, he might struggle with three games in seven days, and therefore the hope will be that Hackney can be saved for this one and will be fine for Hull's visit instead.

RW - Marcus Forss - Ben Doak is the one major concern for Boro and he was seen applying an ice pack to his ankle after coming off on Saturday. That was a result of the heavy challenge that won Boro their penalty. While he played on for a good while after that, Carrick admitted on Monday that they were having to assess how his ankle settled by Wednesday. With Doak on loan from Liverpool and still so young, Carrick has often spoken about their duty of care over the star. With that in mind, it feels questionable that they risk him in this one. With Marcus Forss getting almost 30 minutes from the bench on Saturday, we're picking him ahead of Isaiah Jones to replace Doak for this one.

AM - Finn Azaz - Boro fans will be hoping for sure that one of their players who's a doubt due to illness isn't Finn Azaz. The Ireland international is in sensational form at the moment and another two goals and two assists on Saturday took him to five of each in his last six appearances. He's in phenomenal form.

LW - Delano Burgzorg - Riley McGree will be desperate to regain his place in the side having missed out for a second consecutive game on Saturday due to Carrick's protection of him after recent injury problems and his international travel. What's encouraging, however, is that Burgzorg has really stepped up in the last two games and, for the first time this season, Boro haven't overly-depended on their Aussie star. It would feel harsh to drop Burgzorg unless ill.

ST - Emmanuel Latte Lath - A hat-trick on Saturday took Latte Lath to seven goals for the season, with his form completely transformed since Carrick's decision to take him out of the firing line last month. Tommy Conway continues to push and came off the bench to score himself on Saturday, but providing Latte Lath is fit, you surely can't drop him right now.