MICHAEL CARRICK has challenged Seny Dieng to keep pushing hard in training if he wants to win back his place in Middlesbrough’s starting side.

Dieng became Boro’s undisputed number one goalkeeper when he joined from QPR in the summer, starting the opening 22 matches of the season and impressing with a series of polished displays.

However, he suffered a thigh injury while taking a goal kick during December’s win at Swansea, and was forced to sit out the next month-and-a-half, with Tom Glover taking his place in the side.

Dieng returned to full fitness a couple of weeks ago, but despite Glover making a couple of significant errors, most notably when he allowed Nazariy Rusyn to score a late equaliser in the Tees-Wear derby draw with Sunderland, Carrick has opted to keep the Australian in the starting side.

As things stand, it appears as though Glover has usurped Dieng as Carrick’s first choice, although the Boro boss insists he bases his selection around a number of factors, with performances in training playing a key role, as would be the case with any other position on the pitch.

“Seny is doing well,” said the Boro boss, ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s home game with Plymouth Argyle. “He’s been back training fully about a couple of weeks now, maybe even a little longer.

“Part of having the squad is making those selection decisions. You want players playing well and players doing everything they can to get into the team. I think we’ve seen that throughout the squad over the course of the season.

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“It’s not an isolated incident that we’re seeing with Tom and Seny. It’s all part of having a good squad and having players to choose from, with different skillsets as well. I don’t see the goalkeeper position any different. As long as they’re training well and pushing each other to be the best, it gives us the tough choice to make.”

Carrick’s first-choice selection has been in a state of flux for much of the season, with injury issues affecting his thinking all over the pitch.

In defence, Dael Fry has been first choice for the much of the season, but is currently absent and could struggle to win back his place with Rav van den Berg developing at a pace and Paddy McNair also now available after an injury issue of his own.

Jonny Howson, Hayden Hackney and Lewis O’Brien have all missed big chunks of the campaign in midfield, while in attack, Carrick has hardly ever had both Emmanuel Latte Lath and Josh Coburn available at the same time. As a result, it remains extremely hard to pin down what side Carrick would choose if everyone was available.

“I like to see the competition and the boys pushing each other in a healthy way, but at the same time, we have to all be in it together and all looking to get the same result,” said the Boro boss. “That’s part of it. It’s up to us to make the decision of who plays at what time.

“We’ve had injuries throughout the squad, with players coming in and out of the team as a result. Off the top of my head, I don’t think we’ve had anyone who has played all of the time. Everyone at some point has played some games and missed some games - even Jonny, being the captain, has missed some.”

Latte Lath returns to the squad this afternoon after recovering from the foot injury sustained in the early stages of the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win over Chelsea, but having been out for almost two months, the Ivorian could well be on the bench as he eases his way back into things.

Carrick switched to a five-man backline for last weekend’s win at Leicester, but there is every chance he will revert to a flat back four this afternoon, with his side likely to enjoy significantly more possession against a Plymouth side that have only recorded one away victory in the league all season.

Middlesbrough (probable, 4-2-3-1): Glover; Ayling, van den Berg, McNair, Thomas; Barlaser, O’Brien; Forss, Azaz, McGree; Silvera.