MICHAEL Carrick insists Rodrigo Muniz still has a part to play for Middlesbrough this season.

Since starting Carrick's first game in charge, Muniz has only played 55 minutes of football and the arrival of Cameron Archer pushed the Brazilian further down the pecking order.

Fulham were understood to be keen on recalling Muniz in January and sending him elsewhere for the second half of the season in the hope he'd play more football, but a deal couldn't be finalised and the 21-year-old remained on Teesside.

Muniz has been missing from the matchday squad all together of late but that's because he's been battling a knee injury. When he's fully fit once more, Carrick insists Muniz can still have a "big part" to play.

He says: "Rodrigo has had a little bit of a knee problem so he hasn't been in and around the group but he'll have a part to play just like every other player, 100%.

"It's tough when the team is playing well and we have good options. We believe in Rodrigo, he's a terrific talent and can bring something different to us. I'm sure at some point during the season however soon or maybe towards the end he'll play a part.

"I've said all along we'll need everyone at some point in the season. Rodrigo is no different, he's a big part of what we do."

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With Muniz staying on Teesside, Boro sanctioned the loan exit of Matthew Hoppe late in the window, with the striker joining Hibs until the end of the season.

Carrick said: "I hope he has a good experience. He wants and needs to play games, he needs the experience of minutes on the pitch.

"He went away with the USA last week and did well. I'm just looking forward to seeing him play. We couldn't give him as many minutes as we'd have liked but it's a great opportunity to go up to Scotland to play, enjoy it and learn a lot about the game.

"He's a part of our squad. He's come on and played some minutes. That's always the challenge for the players that are here and for the players that have gone on loan, to perform and show us you're good enough to be part of things going forward.

"That's why I'm really looking forward to seeing him there and hopefully things go well for him."