Michael Carrick insists nothing has changed from his point of view and says Middlesbrough remain calm about Ben Doak’s situation amid transfer offers from Premier League clubs.

Doak is spending the season on loan at Boro from Liverpool and continues to show his importance to their promotion chances as he set up Boro’s goal and looked lively in an otherwise disappointing draw against Cardiff City at the Riverside.

Doak’s performance came 24 hours after Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace had bids rejected by Liverpool as they attempt to prise the Scotland international away from the Riverside in a permanent transfer. Though on loan at Boro until the end of the season, Liverpool have a recall clause this month and could activate it if an offer that better matches their valuation of the winger comes in.

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Asked about the situation and the potential to lose such an important player this month, Carrick said: “Nothing's changed. Loans are loans, that's how it is. In terms of the situation, it's exactly where we are. He played today, looked dangerous and created a goal. It is what it is. Nothing has changed from our point of view. I'm pretty calm about it and I have no worries about that [his performances amid speculation].

“January can throw up different things. Sometimes you can keep players and sometimes you can lose players or teams come in for your players, that's just how it is. Everyone is important but we knew the situation when we got into it.

“We have some good players here and teams are obviously looking at our players because they're talented. It's a real positive for the football club to have those type of players in our squad.

“A lot of things can happen. We have to be ready for what comes along. Sometimes it's planned, sometimes it's from somewhere else and we have to deal with it. There won't be any surprises because we're ready for surprises.”

While Boro are desperate to keep Doak and other key players this month, the Doak situation is ultimately out of their control. Losing the winger would be a blow to their promotion chances given his form this season, with Isaiah Jones struggling for form and Marcus Forss for fitness, though the Finn is at least back in training. Boro would surely need a replacement if the 19-year-old were to leave, and Boro's recruitment team are said to have targets ready to move on should they lose any players this month unexpectedly.