MICHAEL Carrick doesn't expect to welcome back any of his injured players for next week's play-off semi-final first leg at Coventry.

Carrick was delighted to have Ryan Giles back in his Middlesbrough team for the final day draw with the Sky Blues, but says none of his other players are particularly close to a return.

Jonny Howson missed Monday's game with Coventry after suffering an injury in the warm-up against Rotherham last week, while Marcus Forss, Dael Fry and Aaron Ramsey are all sidelined.

Asked whether any of those players are close to a comeback ahead of next Sunday's first leg at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Carrick said: "Not particularly close, no. I'm not overthinking the injuries.

"When the boys are back they're back. It's not about who's not here as much as I love the lads to bits. It's about who's here and making a difference when we're on the pitch."

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Wing-back Giles, one of Boro's most important players this season, missed the Rotherham defeat but returned on Monday and played the full 90 minutes, as did Riley McGree for the first time since the defeat to Burnley in early April.

Carrick said: "That was one of the biggest things, getting boys that needed games some game-time.

"Riley had 90 minutes, he hasn't had that for some time, and obviously Gilo back.

"It's that time of year where you want as many to pick from as you can. Nevertheless, we have a good squad that's coped with it. We'll see who's fit and who we can pick from."