MICHAEL Carrick has all but confirmed that Jonny Howson will be staying at Middlesbrough and signing a new deal this summer.

Boro's captain's current deal expires at the end of the season but Howson had made clear his desire to stay at the club and this week said he "can't see any reason" why he won't sign a new contract.

Talks between Howson and the club have taken place and while the finer details of a new deal are still to be wrapped up, the skipper will, providing there aren't any dramatic or extremely unlikely last minute hitches, put pen to paper on a new contract in the coming weeks.

"I don't think it's done done but I don't think it will be Jonny's last game on Saturday," said Carrick on Thursday ahead of the weekend visit of Watford.

Considering Carrick is reluctant to give too much away on transfer and contract matters, the head coach's admission all but confirms Howson will be staying put.

Howson has made more than 300 appearances for Boro since joining in 2017, establishing himself as a club legend.

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The former Norwich and Leeds midfielder turns 36 later this month but is as important as he's ever been for Boro, on and off the pitch.

"Age is just a number," said Carrick.

"Players are so different now. Some players might find it more difficult when they get to 32, 33. Sometimes you have to be lucky and have to have the genetics and make-up that allows you to stay fit.

"Other times you have to really dedicate and sacrifice a lot and make sure you live your life right and train right to be able to have a longer career. Jonny is a prime example of what it takes.

"He plays like a 31, 32 year old at the minute so to be nearly 36 is irrelevant.

"He trains pretty much every single day, hates missing anything, so it's a bit of a fight when you have to try and pull him out of something because he's adamant he wants to do it.

"He's just a pleasure to have as the leader of the group really and long may it continue."

Contract uncertainty is nothing new for Howson, who has signed one-year extensions at the back end of the last two campaigns prior to this one.

He made clear earlier this year that he had no intention of retiring this summer and has always been open about his desire to stay at Boro.

Earlier this week, Howson told the Twe12thman Podcast: "I'd love to stay.

"It's great the club wants me to stay, hopefully it can get sorted. I can't see any reason why it shouldn't but until it gets sorted...

"Until anything gets sorted, it is hard to say anything. In football anything can happen so until it's all sorted it wouldn't be fair for me to comment either way."

"It's been like this for the last few years, so in regards to myself and the fans it's the same it has been the last few years and hopefully the same outcome."