MICHAEL Carrick was thrilled to see Matt Clarke return to action for Middlesbrough in a behind closed doors friendly this week, but the head coach won't rush the defender back into the first team.

Carrick says he won't put a timescale on Clarke's return to the first team fold, with the head coach happy to cautiously nurse the 26-year-old back to full fitness on the back of his year-long injury nightmare.

Clarke signed for Boro last summer but played just six games before he started to suffer with a problematic back injury which has kept him on the sidelines since last October.

The ex-Brighton man was finally able to resume training with the first team during the recent international break and took a major step forward this week when he played 45 minutes for Boro's Under-21s in a friendly against Carlisle United at Rockliffe. Boro won 5-1.

Carrick said: “It's fantastic to see Matt back on the pitch. It was some nice positive news. Clarkey has been out for a long time and has been through an awful lot, as we’ve been through a number of times.

"But to see him back on the pitch, yeah it was a training ground game and just a friendly, but putting your kit on again, putting your shinpads on, warming up and then playing, it was an important step for Clarkey and I’m delighted for him to come through that.

"It’s the next step in his rehab and getting him fit again, which is great because he deserves it. He’s worked so hard for a long period of time, so it’s fantastic to see."

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Carrick admits he doesn't know at this stage when Clarke might be ready to return to the first team, with the head coach happy to be guided by how the defender is feeling day-to-day. Clarke will continue to work closely with Boro's medical and coaching team.

“There is no pressure from me in terms of time-wise," said Carrick.

"The answer is that we don’t know how long it will be. Clarkey will find his way in terms of his rhythm and momentum to get back to full training every day, and the various stages between now and then.

"That will happen naturally, so we’re not chasing it by any stretch or putting dates or deadlines on it. It’s just nice to see him back among the group, which he has been for a number of weeks, and now getting him back in the pitch. It’s great."

Carrick, meanwhile, says "there's no update" on Alex Bangura and Marcus Forss, with the head coach still waiting to discover the severity of the duo's injuries.

Bangura was forced off in the second half of his debut at Blackburn last week with a hamstring injury, while Forss has a thigh problem. Both players missed the midweek draw at Sheffield Wednesday and Carrick says at this stage it's unclear whether they'll be in contention to be involved on Saturday, when Southampton visit the Riverside.

“There isn’t really an update," said Carrick.

"We’re still waiting and hopeful to a point, but I can’t guarantee either way for the weekend for either Alex or Marcus.”

While bottom of the table Boro are still looking for their first win of the season, Saturday's visitors Southampton have lost their last three games, conceding 10 goals in the process.