MIDDLESBROUGH have been dealt a major double injury blow, with Michael Carrick confirming both Riley McGree and Marcus Forss will miss the rest of the Championship season.

McGree needs surgery on a foot injury he suffered while away with Australia last week, while Forss has also been ruled out for the coming weeks with a hamstring problem sustained in the draw against Blackburn before the international break.

Carrick expects the attacking duo to be back fit for the start of pre-season but the loss of the pair for the remaining seven games of the campaign is another major setback for Boro, whose injury crisis is deepening.

They had an entire team of players missing for the Good Friday draw at Southampton, with the game coming too soon for Rav van den Berg and Hayden Hackney, while Paddy McNair was also ruled out after suffering a hamstring problem in the last minute of Northern Ireland's win over Scotland in midweek.

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Tom Glover was missing with illness and to add to Carrick's woes, Isaiah Jones hobbled off late on.

Van den Berg and Hackney are close to returning, while Boro hope the likes of Josh Coburn, Dael Fry, Alex Bangura and maybe even Darragh Lenihan will play again this season - but that won't be the case for McGree and Forss.

"Riley needs an operation and is out for the season, Marcus is out for the season, which is desperately unfortunate," said Carrick.

"It's a big blow for both of them. They've both had a big impact since I've been here when they've been available.

"It feels drastic when you say they're out for the season but it's a few weeks and they'll be back ready for pre-season. Knowing that they can clear their head and focus on being fit for July and coming through pre-season."

With Boro's defence decimated by injury, Jonny Howson had to play centre-half at St Mary's, where Boro fell behind early on to Adam Armstrong but snatched a point in dramatic circumstances when Emmanuel Latte Lath headed in a leveller at the death.

Carrick said: "Rav was touch and go but wasn't able to play so Jonny was last minute. All the preparation was done but it was too much so Jonny stepped in at the last minute. Hayden it was too soon.

"Paddy felt his hamstring in the 90th minute the other night. We assessed it for a couple of days but no good.

"It's been incredible. I know a lot of teams have had injuries and I understand that but it's been a revolving door. It's not the fault of the players at all and it's been crazy. We haven't been able to get a consistent team but the boys have adapted unbelievably well and keep finding a way. When you go through that it shows what you're all about."