WHEN Lewis O'Brien joined Middlesbrough in the summer, the midfielder made clear his desire to get his career back on track.

O'Brien was one of the Championship's stand-out stars two seasons ago, leading Huddersfield Town to the play-off final before following Nottingham Forest into the Premier League with a big money move to the City Ground in the summer of 2022.

That move didn't work out and when Boro completed the loan capture of O'Brien at the start of the current campaign, they welcomed a player who was desperate to make up for lost time.

Frustratingly, for O'Brien and Boro, that hasn't been possible so far. After a promising start to life on Teesside and four successive starts in Michael Carrick's side, O'Brien suffered a serious injury at Watford in September and was sidelined for four months.

But he's fit again now, has had some involvement in Boro's last four games and Carrick says having the 25-year-old back in contention is like having a new signing in his squad.

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O'Brien was on the bench at Preston in midweek but with Hayden Hackney a doubt for Saturday's game at Leicester, the Nottingham Forest loanee could be recalled to the starting XI.

O'Brien's future beyond this season is unclear, with Forest having changed managers since he left the City Ground to join Boro, but the midfielder's only focus right now is on helping Carrick's side get back on track in the Championship - and he's determined to take any opportunities that come his way.

“He’s had a really frustrating one Lewis," said Carrick.

"But he’s been back training with us for a few weeks now and we’ve just been careful because it was one of those injuries that we just had to look after him with.

"Now he’s back fit he’s obviously looking for a run of games and to be involved more to get back up to speed. He’s another one that feels like a new signing."