Michael Carrick in-tray with Middlesbrough selection, transfer focus and potential Mowbray favour

Middlesbrough have a rare free week following their important win over Millwall as they prepare, on and off the field, for an important couple of weeks. A 3-1 victory over the Lions [1] in the capital despite numerous factors going against them has left them just one point off the Championship play-off places. With no midweek game this week, Boro [2] can now look forward to the weeks ahead, with Rotherham United visiting the Riverside on Saturday before the trip to Chelsea for the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg next Tuesday.

It is January, of course, and that means that focus will also be on the transfer market and potential ins and outs at the club. With all that in mind, we take a look at considerations sitting in Michael Carrick's [3] in-tray at the start of this week.

Squad depth picture looking healthier

For the first time in a long time, Boro's squad depth was noted by both managers after Saturday's victory over Millwall.

The bench still featured under-21 players Bryant Bilongo and Calum Kavanagh, but beyond that, Carrick welcomed back Marcus Forss to complement the returning Lewis O'Brien too, in what was a far more senior looking squad. After two big efforts against Aston Villa and Chelsea, Carrick also had the luxury of being able to rest Hayden Hackney, Matt Clarke and Matt Crooks. It's certainly been a rarity for Carrick, but will be welcomed.

Moving forward Carrick is likely to have tough selection dilemmas ahead, particularly when Sammy Silvera and Riley McGree return from international duty. But competition for places can drive up standards, and, given how the first half of the season has gone, Carrick would certainly prefer tough choices than very few at all.

Clear January focus

The returning bodies offer an obvious explanation as to why Boro never intended to be too busy in January. However, their current striker situation, Carrick has admitted, could prompt Boro to have to look at that market with more serious consideration now.

Heading into January, Boro had identified Finn Azaz as a player to help with their craft and end-product in attack, while long-term injuries to Tommy Smith and Darragh Lenihan led to them prioritising an experienced right-back in the ilk of Luke Ayling. Both had really promising starts to their Boro careers. They were always monitoring the striker market this month in the hope of finding the right kind of deal to supplement their current options, but January is a notoriously difficult market, particularly for strikers.

While their initial stance was only if it was a perfect fit, that might have to slacken now, with both Emmanuel Latte Lath and Josh Coburn missing at Millwall through injury. While Boro showed their flexibility and goals from all areas to cope, and the length of absences the two number nines face on the sidelines are unknown, Boro still look like needing a striker this month. Both Latte Lath and Coburn have had persistent fitness problems in the first half of the season, which has to be a factor.

While, ideally, Boro would have only signed a striker this month if it was a permanent deal for a player who fit the bill, the loan market might become increasingly useful if the right option can't be found now - with an appreciation that there is always the summer to try again and more avenues likely open to them then. Boro were over the weekend linked with a loan move for Amad Diallo - the Manchester United star who Carrick knows well and who starred at Sunderland in the Championship last term. Not a striker, it doesn't appear to fit the bill, but he'd undoubtedly add attacking quality while Forss could then potentially switch back to his preferred centre-forward role.

That's a risk in itself because the returning goalscorer has only been able to start four games all season due to his own fitness concerns since the summer. It could be a case of needs-must, however, if Diallo is genuinely an option, with Forss certainly a solid option for them as a striker in far-from-ideal circumstances for them.

Selection dilemmas with Rotherham and Chelsea in mind

Carrick's improved options will be welcome ahead of a huge seven days in which Boro first host Rotherham in the Championship and then head to Chelsea with that one-goal advantage, hoping to make yet more special memories by securing their place in the Wembley final. The rewards for the Chelsea game are obvious but Carrick continues to stress the point that they can't afford to take their eyes off the league.

Basement side Rotherham is perhaps the ideal home game before that Chelsea trip, but Boro found out on Boxing Day that a win over Millers can't be taken as a given. Luke Ayling, Sam Greenwood and Finn Azaz will likely continue in the side because they're cup-tied in the Carabao Cup. Beyond that, Carrick will be monitoring his squad ahead of the weekend and thinking about his Rotherham team with his Chelsea selection and his players' capabilities in mind.

Potential Tony Mowbray [5] favour ahead of Sunderland

One factor that really could help Boro this week would be the prospect of a ten-day rest after Chelsea before Sunderland's visit on February 4.

Boro are currently due to play Birmingham City a week on Saturday, in the game immediately following Chelsea - giving Carrick another game to think about. However, that weekend is also FA Cup [6] fourth-round weekend and Boro will find their weekend schedule cleared on January 27 if Birmingham City beat Hull City at St Andrew's on Tuesday evening in their FA Cup third-round replay. Tony Mowbray's second game in charge of the Blues, the Boro legend could do his boyhood club a huge favour this week ahead of their clash with his former side.

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References

^ A 3-1 victory over the Lions (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
^ Boro (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
^ Michael Carrick's (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
^ Michael Carrick's striker transfer stance as Josh Coburn's Middlesbrough absence is explained (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
^ Tony Mowbray (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
^ FA Cup (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
^ Just head here (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
^ Click here to subscribe to Teesside Live's Boro newsletter (www.gazettelive.co.uk)