HE'S been used in Middlesbrough's attack in recent weeks but Michael Carrick says he's well aware that Hayden Hackney's best position is midfield and the Teessider is likely to revert back to playing most of his football in his favoured role, starting at Preston tonight.

And with Hackney dropping back into midfield, there's every chance the vacancy further forward will be filled by Riley McGree, who Carrick said "feels like a new signing" with the Australian having missed most of Boro's season.

Carrick's options in attack have been stretched in recent weeks, with Morgan Rogers having left in the January window, Matt Crooks missing a couple of games before his exit and Isaiah Jones and Emmanuel Latte Lath both out with injury.

That resulted in Boro's head coach shifting Hackney forward into a more advanced role, where he has been effective in the past but in recent weeks hasn't looked as comfortable as he does in midfield.

The decision to again play Hackney further forward backfired on Saturday against Bristol City and Carrick quickly moved the Redcar-born England Under-21 international back into midfield after the Robins raced into a two-goal lead - and Hackney is likely to be back in the middle for tonight's game at Deepdale.

“Listen, Hayden’s best position is midfield," admitted Carrick.

"We all know that and we’re not trying to reinvent him. It was just circumstances. He can do that [play further forward], he’s played off the left as well pretty successfully over time by scoring goals. The boys can all play different roles, but you’ve got to get the balance right for certain games and we’ve definitely got something to choose from and decisions to make."

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Carrick says it's credit to Hackney that he's able to be versatile.

“It shows his quality," said Boro's boss.

"Again, I think midfield is where he feels at home and it’s certainly where he’s played the most. He’s certainly capable of doing other things though, and when he has done that, it’s been good for his experience and for his development as well. He’s handled it well and it will benefit him in the long run."

Hackney will be key as Boro look to keep their ailing season alive, with Carrick's side out to end a three-match winless run at Preston tonight. Another player who will be pivotal between now and the end of the season is McGree, who has endured a frustrating campaign so far on Teesside.

The 25-year-old started just league games before being sidelined by a plantar fascia injury and just as he resumed fitness then headed off to the Asian Cup with Australia.

He's now been back on Teesside a couple of weeks and there's every chance he starts tonight.

Carrick said: "Riley is good. He feels like a bit of a new signing really. He had a bit of stop-start time at the start of the season and was showing good signs when he came back from his injury and then he went away.

"He’s come back looking good and he’s trained a bit with us now. He’ll be an important player for us coming up.

"I think it was a frustrating one for him earlier in the season because of the nature of that injury. We weren’t exactly sure and it was a bit of take it as it comes. It ended up being a little longer than we hoped but in some ways, now, coming into this phase of the season, we can use that as a real positive because there’s a freshness and enthusiasm from him and that rub off.

"I think we’ll get the benefits from that."