MICHAEL CARRICK will reassess what he thinks Neto Borges’ best position is at the end of the international break.
Borges has spent the vast majority of his Middlesbrough career playing at left-back, but a spate of defensive injuries means Carrick has had to move the Brazilian to centre-half in the last three games.
Borges has responded impressively, helping Boro follow up their defeat at Swansea with a win over QPR and draw at Luton that have kept the Teessiders within three points of the play-off places.
By the time the Championship programme resumes in just under a fortnight’s time, Boro could have some or all of Rav van den Berg, George Edmundson and Dael Fry back in the fold, which would enable Borges to move back to left-back. However, Carrick admits the 28-year-old’s performances at centre-half have given him food for thought, and made him ponder what Borges’ optimal position might end up being.
“That’s the beauty of it,” said the Boro boss. “Things adapt and evolve, and he's done tremendously well.
“I don't think we need to make a decision at the point of where it's at. I think it depends on who we can get back at what point, and what we look like after the international break. But it's great to know that he can do it.
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“We knew Jonny (Howson) could do it because he's done it for us before. But we now know Neto can do it and we might continue with that, we might not. It's nice to have the option.”
Carrick was particularly pleased with Borges’ performance at Luton at the weekend, when he helped repel a typically physical and robust opposition attack.
“We knew we’d be challenged in a different way, and Neto stepped up,” he said. “I thought he was fantastic again. He took bangs, took whacks, stepped up, jumped up, showed character to face it again. He took the challenge head on. He’s got about five or six different things getting treated (after the game), but he'll be all right.
“I thought he was immense with Jonny. We had to ride our luck at certain times, but I think we earned that really, with the spirit and the togetherness of the group.
“He's played a lot of games this season. He almost needed a rest for a couple of games at one stage, but since he's come back, he's kicked on again.”
