GASTON RAMIREZ is back in the fold at Middlesbrough, where for a number of weeks it seemed he had played his last game for the club.

His failure to push through a move to Leicester City has led to him travelling to Spain with the squad for some warm weather training this week, so he must have cleared his head when he was given extra time to do so after the transfer window closed.

Now Aitor Karanka, the Boro head coach, must weigh up when is the right time to throw him back into the mix – after all he was adamant that the former Southampton man would not be sold before the window closed.

Given how Middlesbrough have only scored three times in their last seven Premier League matches, the Uruguayan playmaker needs to return and hit the ground running after missing four of those fixtures.

Much has been made of the lack of goal threat from Karanka’s team this season, with many fans and observers demanding more adventure going forward because they boast the unwanted record of the poorest goals return in the top-flight.

A home game against Everton this weekend, despite the attacking quality the Toffees possess, is required or Middlesbrough could find themselves in the bottom three by Sunday.

Karanka is unlikely to mix the formation up to much, he doesn’t tend to do that very often. But where should Ramirez play?

After missing out on the transfer targets Karanka wanted during January, Ramirez needs to be in the team again – he is vital to the cause as Middlesbrough look to avoid the drop.

Here are the options the Middlesbrough boss should consider, with Alvaro Negredo seemingly guaranteed a starting spot. Which one should he opt for?

The Northern Echo:

As you will see with these four main options, there is an argument that Stewart Downing deserves to start because of the balance his left-foot can bring to the side.

Reverting to the three man system behind lone striker Negredo would allow for Downing to be on the wing, with Ramirez in his preferred No 10 role and the pace of Adama Traore down the right.

With two holding midfielders behind, this looks like it would provide the best balance provided Karanka’s tactics could get the forwards playing with greater freedom.

Alternative options to play this role would be Patrick Bamford, Cristhian Stuani, Viktor Fischer or Adlene Guedioura, so Karanka would have alternatives to mix things up from the bench.

Out of all of formations and systems to consider, this seems the most suited to what Karanka is looking to do.

The Northern Echo:

Earlier in the season a switch to a four-man midfield behind the striker, with Adam Clayton holding on his own, brought rewards. Positive performances and results against Arsenal, Bournemouth and Chelsea suggested Karanka had stumbled on a better system for the Premier League.

He has tended to use a variation of that ever since, but it does work a lot better when Ramirez has been around. Karanka could opt to use that approach against Everton, by re-introducing Ramirez to the middle.

The question marks would be who else would figure? The argument for Downing and Traore to add the balance is a justified again for the same reasons as above.

Then it would be a case of who to field in the middle. Adam Forshaw has been the most consistent this season, even if he has not scored Marten de Roon’s three goals.

The Northern Echo:

THIS one is unlikely given Karanka’s preference for a holding man, but it does look strong, traditional and useful.

Clayton and Forshaw (or de Roon/Grant Leadbitter) would be the men in the middle based on appearances this season, with Downing and Traore providing the balance again out wide.

A four-man midfield would then see Ramirez asked to have a free role behind lone striker Negredo, which would suit the Uruguayan down to the ground.

It would also give the lone striker a bit more freedom to roam because the central-attacking midfielder would be higher up to support more often.

Despite Karanka’s reluctance, this one could be worth trying. It is quite solid, which he likes and should cause the opposition problems.

The Northern Echo:

Whatever happened to a traditional 4-4-2? This is what a Middlesbrough system might look like if Karanka wanted to go ‘old school’ and stick with Ramirez.

Ramirez is not a striker, so Rudy Gestede, Bamford or Stuani would have to partner Negredo in attack. Then it would be a case of where to play Ramirez, with the most likely position being on the left because he wouldn’t suit a normal central midfield role.

Guedioura has impressed on a regular basis on the right of midfield because of his workrate, so he could suit this and then Traore’s suspect workrate defensively – although it has been improving – would not be of concern.

Even if this looks like it could work, don’t be banking on it. An orthodox system has never been something Karanka has shown a love for since taking over Middlesbrough more than three years ago.