MICHAEL CARRICK knows what he wants to do with Josh Coburn this season – but admits his decision will be influenced by Middlesbrough’s transfer dealings in the attacking positions.

Coburn returned to Teesside in the summer after spending last season on loan at League One side Bristol Rovers.

The youngster is hoping to force his way into Boro’s first-team plans for the new campaign, but there have been suggestions in the last few weeks that he has been lined up for another loan move for at least the first half of the season.

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Carrick did not want to give too much away when the issue was raised at his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s game with Coventry City, but conceded that while he has a plan in his head, it could yet have to change depending on what else happens before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

“It’s a little bit dependent on other things,” said the Boro boss. “I think we’ve got a clear idea – well, we’ve definitely got a clear idea of what the plan is for Josh.

“We know what we want it to look like. But there are a couple of ifs and buts in that, as you’d expect at this stage of the summer. We’ve certainly got a plan of what we want to happen though, and hopefully it will play out like that.”

Having missed the vast majority of the pre-season programme with injury, Coburn was an unused substitute for last weekend’s opening-day defeat to Millwall.

He has already been ruled out of the starting side for tomorrow’s trip to the CBS Arena, although he is expected to be on the bench again and could feature if Carrick decides he needs to shake things up in the second half.

Coburn, who is contracted to Boro until the summer of 2027, scored ten goals in 35 League One appearances with Bristol Rovers last season.