MIDDLESBROUGH’S defensive injury problems are mounting, with Tommy Smith facing a long-term lay-off and fellow full-back Lukas Engel also a major doubt ahead of Saturday’s home game with Stoke City.

Smith was not part of the squad that secured a 2-1 win at Carrow Road on Tuesday night, with Michael Carrick revealing after the game that the right-back has suffered an ankle injury that is likely to keep him on the sidelines for a number of weeks.

Rav van den Berg replaced Smith at right-back against Norwich, with Engel starting on the opposite flank, but Carrick had to shuffle things around again in the closing stages when Engel was forced off with a groin issue.

The summer signing from Denmark has a chance of making Saturday’s game with Stoke, but Carrick might find himself starting with Alex Bangura, who has only just returned from an injury issue of his own.

Further up the field, Marcus Forss was another absentee from the squad at Norwich because of a thigh problem, while an illness issue prevented Emmanuel Latte Lath from travelling to Norfolk.

“We’ll have to count the bodies for the weekend to see who’s fit,” admitted Carrick. “We’re a bit like the walking wounded at the moment. We’ll have to see who we end up with.

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“Lukas came off with a tight groin, and Tommy’s ankle looks like it’s going to be a long one, unfortunately. Marcus has a tight thigh, but we have to wait and see on that one. We’re not sure yet whether that will be a quick one or not. We’re just assessing that one at the moment, and then Manu missed out through illness, he’s been sick for the last couple of days.

“We’ve got a decent team at the moment that didn’t even travel (to Norwich) and are sat on the sidelines at the minute, unfortunately for us. But, as I’ve always said, that’s why we’ve got the squad we have. Different lads will get their chances at different parts of the season.”

To compound Boro’s weekend selection issues, Hayden Hackney will not be involved against Stoke as he picked up his fifth booking of the season against Norwich.

The caution was a controversial one, with referee Simon Hooper brandishing a yellow card after deciding that Hackney was taking too long to leave the field during the process of being substituted in the 89th minute.

However, when Hooper flourished his card, Carrick claims Hackney did not even know he was player that was being replaced.

“It was a bizarre yellow card,” said Carrick, who is unable to lodge an appeal against a booking. “It was while he was coming off. We were taking him off, but his number hadn’t gone up, so Hayden didn’t know he was coming off. The referee told him he was coming off, but Hayden didn’t know and his number hadn’t gone up.

“Me, as a player, if the ref tells me I’m going off, I still don’t know for certain until my number goes up on that board. So, the referee then books him for not coming off the pitch quickly enough, which is just bizarre. Now, he’s suspended for the weekend, it’s incredible.

“I know the referee has to run the game and wants it to flow, but to book a player for not going off when his number has not even gone up, I find it bizarre myself. I just cannot understand it.”

Carrick was nevertheless delighted with his side’s victory on Tuesday, with the win extending Boro’s superb sequence in the league to six straight successes and lifting the Teessiders into the top half of the table for the first time all season.

“It took a lot of effort to get over the line,” said the Boro boss. “You saw our teamwork and our team spirit. They played smartly to understand the plan, apply it and stick to it. I thought the boys were fantastic.

“There were two sides to it. First half, I thought we were really good with the ball and played some really good football. And then second half, I thought we controlled it. Even out of possession, I still felt we were in control and still managed to look dangerous. It was a fantastic effort from everyone and a really deserved win.”