Luke Ayling Faces Uncertain Recovery as Injury Concerns Mount Ahead of Plymouth Clash.

Boro are closely monitoring the condition of defender Luke Ayling following a knee injury sustained during Saturday's match against Millwall

Ayling's substitution in the first half of the recent victory was necessitated by two separate injuries. While the club has confirmed that a foot injury, which required stitches, is no longer a concern, the status of his knee injury remains uncertain. Boro are awaiting further medical updates to determine the severity of the injury.

In addition to Ayling's situation, midfielder Aidan Morris is making steady progress in his recovery from a knee injury but has yet to resume full training. As a result, he will miss the match against Plymouth. Forward Marcus Forss is also unavailable, although he is edging closer to a return to full training after an extended absence.

On a more positive note for manager Michael Carrick, Lukas Engel has rejoined full training after being sidelined since late August. His return could provide much-needed depth to the squad as they navigate a challenging period.

The injury to Ayling is particularly pressing for Middlesbrough, especially with Tommy Smith still out due to a significant Achilles injury. This situation leaves Anfernee Dijksteel as the only recognised senior right-back at Carrick's disposal, underscoring the importance of squad rotation and depth in the coming weeks.

Carrick addressed Ayling's injury status, stating, "We're still seeing where Luke is. He had a bad gash on his foot which had stitches in but it was the knee he came off with and it's the knee that's more the issue. Hopefully he won't be too long but we're still waiting to see."

Morris's knee injury was sustained during international duty with the United States, while Forss encountered a minor issue upon returning to training. Carrick expressed optimism regarding both players, noting, "Aidan is back on the grass, he's not training with us but day by day he's getting closer. Lukas is back fully training with us. He's been out for quite some time but he's been back fully training for two or three days. Marcus isn't far away from being back in and around the group. He just had a little niggle but that wasn't a big deal. He shouldn't be too long. That's why you need the squad. You always pick up little bits but at the moment we're all in decent shape."

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Long-term absentees Tommy Smith and Darragh Lenihan remain sidelined, with Carrick yet to provide a timeline for their returns, as reported by The Northern Echo.