Middlesbrough’s boss is hoping that the team’s illnesses are behind them: Prior to their match against Sunderland.

Illness has befell a number of Middlesbrough players in the last week or so.

Michael Carrick is hoping an illness going through the Middlesbrough squad is now behind them as he prepares his side for the trip to Sunderland on Saturday.

Boro’s squad has been afflicted by an illness going around Rockliffe in the last week or so. Darragh Lenihan missed last weekend’s trip to Watford, while Jonny Howson had to sit out Tuesday evening’s victory over Cardiff City. Carrick revealed ahead of the Sunderland game that at least a couple of other players had also been affected.

But having taken as many precautions as they possibly could to contain the illness – of which no details were given – Carrick is now hoping the worst is behind them and that no new players fall before Saturday’s trip to Sunderland for the Wear-Tees derby.

We’re taking things day by day, to be honest, seeing who’s okay and hope nobody else gets hit and moves aside, said Carrick. We’re keeping an eye on it, trying to be as careful as we can, taking safety measures, and taking the best possible care of the athletes. I hope no one is terrible tomorrow as of now.

There is truly just so much you can do. We have work to do, and the players need to practice. You must make every effort to stop anything from moving further. Over the past week or two, we have had three or four. We hope no one else experiences the same problems because the boys are taking care of themselves.

On the injury front, Carrick revealed that Lewis O’Brien will need surgery and will miss two to three months as a result. Rav van den Berg is hopeful of being back for the game after missing Tuesday’s win, while the squad was boosted that night by the returns of Anfernee Dijksteel and Alex Bangura to the bench.

“We’re hopeful for Rav that he can be back in and around it in some way,” Carrick said. “It was good to have Anf and Alex back in the squad on Tuesday night. It’s funny in a way, just as you get a couple back in, you end up losing one or two as well.

“But we’re pleased to have them back. Anf has been out a while and it’s always a frustrating time to get injured. Alex as well, playing his first game and taking that blow. So it’s great to have them back in and around it and making our squad a lot stronger.”