WHEN the final whistle blew in Middlesbrough's play-off defeat to Coventry City last season, Michael Carrick knew immediately that a summer of change would follow.

Loanees would depart, key players would inevitably move on. It did, admits Carrick looking back, "feel like the end of something".

Boro couldn't match last season's achievement in making the top six this time around but now excited Carrick has a team that he expects to grow together rather than be dismantled this summer. Now, for the head coach, it feels like the start rather than the end.

And that is why Boro's boss wasn't remotely interesting in being coy when it comes to next season's aims. The target is clear.

“We’re striving to challenge for promotion next season and we won’t hide from that," he says.

"We had a good season last season but fell a little bit short in the end. We were close this season but had a lot more challenges along the way. There will be some big teams and tough teams in the league next season, as there was this season. But we feel we can compete, so we’re looking forward to it.

“There’s a different feeling to the end last season. Of course, we have got loan players who we will have to make calls on. But certainly, there was a different feeling last season. It felt like it was a little bit of an end to something then, even if it was quite quick. This season, it’s been more carrying on a little bit of that, but also growing something. Now, it feels more like the start of something, and we need to keep building on that."

RECOMMENDED READING:

While Boro had to last year deal with the heartbreak of that play-off defeat, this time around they moved into the summer on a high after the final day win over Watford and a run of just one defeat in their last 12.

Carrick said: “It’s a very different feeling. Obviously at that time, suffering a play-off defeat is not nice and the emotions were as they were. But it’s the same messages as then in terms of going away over the same and then coming back ready to go again, fresh and clear in the mind.

"We want them to look after their bodies and come back with a real focus of getting out of the league next season. That has to be aim and I’ve no worries about throwing that out there - that has to be what we strive for. The boys will be ready and prepared for that, going away in good spirits and knowing what we’re coming back to, which is important."