DURING his time as a player at Manchester United, Michael Carrick loved the arrival of new signings, even if it meant more competition in his area of the pitch.

Adding to the squad, he says, meant there was a focus on improvement, regardless of how well United were faring on the pitch.

And as a head coach, his attitude hasn't changed. While Carrick is delighted with the way his Middlesbrough side have performed in recent months, he says the arrival of three new faces in January will further boost belief at Rockliffe.

And for the players who now have extra competition in their department, Carrick has encouraged them to embrace the challenge, as he used to when he was a player.

"For me it was great, it meant the team was trying to move forward and to push each other," said Carrick.

"Now, as coaches, we're trying to be better all the time and as players it's exactly the same. You appreciate that and it gives you an extra boost and extra energy when you see good players coming in and the group is getting stronger and stronger. It gives you a lot of confidence."

New arrivals and more options will result in more selection dilemmas for Carrick, but he has no concerns about a struggle to keep those on the fringes happy, such is the spirit in the camp.

He says: "The boys have all been so good around the place, around the changing room, training ground, in training, the boys on the bench and how much encouragement they're giving to the lads on the pitch, even the ones in their position.

"It's genuine and the spirit is so good. I'm really keen to keep everyone involved. It's a funny game football, you can think you're far away from playing then all of a sudden within a week or so you can be in for the rest of the season.

"That's the challenge for the players who maybe aren't in the starting XI, to keep yourself ready.

"Don't get me wrong, it's difficult mentally to keep yourself at that stage when you're ready to step in, but the boys are doing great."

Making his first start for Boro, Cameron Archer took his chance against Watford last week and looks set to continue up-top against Blackpool today. Dan Barlaser is expected to come into the squad but is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench, while deadline day arrival Aaron Ramsey is not yet ready to feature as he works his way back to full fitness after knee surgery in December.

Boro will welcome back Dael Fry after the defender served his one-match ban last week. Carrick must decide whether to bring the Teessider straight back in or stick with Paddy McNair, who helped keep a clean sheet against Watford.

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After swatting aside the Hornets, Boro are strong favourites to beat struggling Blackpool but Carrick is taking nothing for granted against the Seasiders, with Mick McCarthy taking charge of his first league game since replacing Michael Appleton.

"I haven't had too much experience with Mick but I have a lot of respect for the work he's done and the amount of time he's spent in the hotseat at certain clubs and the experience he's gained," said Carrick.

"I have a lot of respect but I've never come across him so it's a new challenge for me."

McCarthy has had one game in charge so far, an FA Cup defeat at Southampton, which has been studied by the Boro coaching team ahead of today's game.

Carrick said: "They had 10 days or so to prepare for that. We take the information we can get, we try to look a bit deeper if possible but in the end it's about what we can do and how we can impact the game as much as possible."

While Carrick is just three months into his managerial career, McCarthy has been at it for 30 years and Boro's head coach admires the longevity of the Yorkshireman.

"Even if you'd asked me before I came into management, I'd have been the same. It's a lot of work, ability and skill to be in the game for so long and to be in charge for so many games," said Carrick.

"I fully respected that position and what it brings. Now, being in this position, I get it, but it hasn't changed my mind that much. I knew what I was getting into."