BOTH George Edmundson and Rav van den Berg have avoided serious injury, with Michael Carrick revealing there's a possibility one or both could even be available for Saturday's game against Derby County.
Even if that games comes too soon for the duo, the fact the injuries suffered by both this week have turned out to be minor is a huge relief for Carrick, who faced the prospect of being left short at centre-half.
Van den Berg missed Tuesday night's win at Stoke City with a knee problem he complained about in training the day earlier, while Edmundson was forced off early in the second half at the bet365 Stadium with an ankle injury.
That left Dael Fry as Boro's only fit and available senior centre-half, with Luke Ayling coming off the bench to partner the Teessider in the second half at Stoke.
Ayling will get the nod to face the Rams if Edmundson and van den Berg don't make it, but Carrick will leave it as long as possible before making a final decision.
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“We’re still waiting to see on both," said Boro's boss at his press conference on Thursday.
"George jarred his ankle after landing awkwardly. We’ll see how he is. Rav is similar. It was knee for Rav the day before the game in training. He felt it a little bit and we’ll have to see how he is.
"They could possibly be available for the weekend. I’m not writing them off at this stage. We’ll have to wait and see because there’s still a bit of work to do to see where they’re at.”
Boro do have 17-year-old Harley Hunt on their books, the highly-rated summer signing from Swindon Town, who made his first team debut in the Carabao Cup earlier this season. But the teenager has also been out injured recently and is just getting back fit, so won't be considered for Saturday's game.
Ben Doak, Jonny Howson and Riley McGree will again be missing against Derby, with Boro looking to build on their much-needed Stoke success and close the gap to the top six, which currently stands at four points.
