AITOR KARANKA has revealed Jonathan Woodgate thinks it could be difficult to play on for a further year, but having a major say in Middlesbrough’s promotion race could persuade him to think differently.

Woodgate has been a key factor in Boro’s last two victories over Ipswich and Derby County, despite the fact he had figured in just one previous Championship game all season.

The 35-year-old will be carefully monitored at the club’s Rockliffe Park training headquarters this morning before a decision will be made on whether he should be in contention for the second-versus-third match-up with Bournemouth.

For Woodgate to play three matches in the space of a week would be an incredible turnaround because of his injury problems, but the defender himself has enjoyed every minute of being such a big part of things again.

He is, though, out of contract in the summer when he will make a decision on his future, with Middlesbrough’s head coach full of admiration for a player renowned for having injury problems.

"I've been speaking with him for a year and a half every single day,” said Karanka. “Both of us know that the best thing is to manage it day by day, because we can forget that five months ago he was thinking about retiring.

“We need to finish this season and then at the end of the season Woody can do whatever he wants, because for me he's an amazing player and an amazing man. If Woody played at Real Madrid it wasn't a coincidence, it's because he's intelligent.

“I think he feels it's difficult for him to stay for one more year, but I can't say anything today because maybe he plays for the next eight games and is very important for us in the promotion race, and he's fit for next season.

“I prefer to think about the game on Saturday and then the following game, because I was joking with him that he has the head of a 15-year-old kid but his body is 150 years. Now he's happy because he's part of the team on the pitch.

“Woody is Middlesbrough. More than me, Woody is a legend, more than a legend because he is showing everybody especially in the last two or three games that he lives for this club and he's the perfect person to work here.”

If Woodgate is deemed fit enough to cope with the strains of a third huge game in a row then Karanka will be happy enough to play him at Bournemouth tomorrow. Daniel Ayala, who should be fit after a thigh problem, could be his replacement.

“Woody is important for the team because I knew one day he would be perfect,” said Karanka. “He's perfect now. He's supporting the team when he's not playing, and he's supporting the team when he is playing really well on the pitch.

“He is experienced, he is confident and it's good for everyone. When a player has played at Real Madrid and at Tottenham it's not a coincidence. If Woody has played in those places it's because he deserved to play in those teams.

“He's always ready, sometimes other players need more confidence or to be sure, he knows that when he's training he's always ready to play.”

While Woodgate is enjoying something of a first team renaissance, Mustapha Carayol has struggled to force his way back in to the side after his ten-month lay off with cruciate knee ligament damage.

Nottingham Forest have expressed an interest in signing him on loan and Karanka admits he could leave before next Thursday’s loan window closing.

Karanka said: “I was speaking with Muzzy on Wednesday and both of us think it's best for him and for us to send him on loan. But we have to try to find the best place for him. At the moment there is nothing concrete.”

Middlesbrough are looking at options themselves before the deadline. Karanka is not desperate to add a new face but would be happy to move if he felt it would boost his team’s promotion chances.

Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes is still a possibility if Rovers’ owners, Venkys, decide to let him go on loan with a view to a permanent deal, although Karanka is adamant nothing is close.

He said: “I have a lot of work and I prefer not to say anything about speculation because I have enough work than to think about this.

“I'm not interested in one specific position - but we have to be ready because if we have a good option to sign a good player that would be good to improve the squad, we can't say no. But we're not looking for anything.”