MICHAEL Carrick will assess some "knocks, bumps and bruises" in his Middlesbrough squad before deciding whether to stick with the same starting XI for the third successive game at Birmingham City on Tuesday night.

It's the third game in a week for Boro, who are looking to make it a trio of wins and close the gap on the Championship's top six to five points.

Carrick believes Boro have benefited from the return of crucial players like Jonny Howson and Emmanuel Latte Lath but must decide whether the duo are OK to start a third game in a week after a spell on the sidelines.

"We'll have to see. The games are a little bit closer together but I always think Saturday Tuesday, there's time to recover normally," said Carrick, when asked whether changes are likely at St Andrew's.

"We'll have to make a call on that because there are a few knocks and bumps and bruises and lads who haven't played a lot of football recently who've come in for a cluster of games. Manu and Jonny, specifically, so we'll have to make that decision. We'll wait and see."

Latte Lath has scored in his last two outings, while Howson has made a big impact since his return from his knee injury.

Carrick said: “It’s important to have individuals hit form at the right time. That’s obviously helped by the team being in a better place and playing well. We feel we’re in a better place now squad-wise. Manu is back, Jonny is back, hopefully we’ll be getting a couple back over the international break. That certainly helps."

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After Tuesday's game against Birmingham - who are winless in four and just a point above the relegation zone - Boro face Blackburn at the Riverside in the last game before the international break.

That stoppage will give Boro's players the opportunity for a breather and those carrying knocks chance to recover, but Carrick insists the break isn't in his thoughts as he ponders his team selection for Tuesday night's game.

He said: "That's further down the line. It's this week, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday is quite quick. Wednesday to Saturday is the critical one; Saturday to Tuesday is more spaced out. We'll make a call on that."

Boro have been boosted by the return to fitness of Isaiah Jones, but the winger has been an unused substitute in the last two games.

Carrick said: "We have to be careful and manage Izzy back but the boys who have played have done great. There are both sides to it.

"This is not on Izzy individually, there's nobody who just goes straight back into the team. That's the beauty of it with the squad we've got. There's good healthy competition and they push each other to be at a good level."