Riley McGree and Seny Dieng fitness updates ahead of crucial week for Middlesbrough

Michael Carrick is hoping Middlesbrough will be further boosted for a crucial week with the returns of Riley McGree and Seny Dieng.

The pair were absent on Saturday as Boro quickly returned to winning ways against Hull City. Returning players in Hayden Hackney, Finn Azaz and Delano Burgzorg played crucial roles in that important victory as Boro now look ahead to a crucial week in their season.

With games against Burnley, Leeds United and in-form Millwall starting from next Friday, it could be a huge eight days for Boro's promotion hopes. And with Dieng (illness) and McGree (dead leg) missing Saturday's win, Carrick was hopeful that at least Dieng should be available for next Friday's trip to Turf Moor.

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Offering an update after the Hull win, Carrick said: "Seny trained over the last day or so, but he had a bit of stop-start when he was away on international duty and didn't train too much. Then he came back and he's been ill, but he's back training.

“Riley suffered a dead leg on Wednesday and he still wasn’t ready for today. We’re not sure how bad, but it was quite a bad one to keep him out today. We’re not sure in terms of time-wise how it will look and whether he’ll be back next week or not. Hopefully it won’t be too long, but it will be touch and go for next week."

As well as McGree and Dieng, Boro continue to monitor Rav van den Berg and Lukas Engel who both recently started training again after injuries. Aidan Morris is a longer term absentee and isn't expected to be available for any of the upcoming games after suffering a knee injury while away on international duty.