Dael Fry starts, 4-2-3-1 formation: The Middlesbrough XI that Michael Carrick should field against Blackpool | OneFootball

Middlesbrough host Blackpool on Saturday in what will be Mick McCarthy’s first league outing as manager of the Tangerines.

Boro will not have given up hope of bulldozing their way into the top two just yet, even though Sheffield United boast a 12-point cushion on them, having played a game fewer, with 17 league matches left available to them.

Michael Carrick’s men made light work of hosting Watford last time out, with Cameron Archer proving a lot to handle for the Hornets’ backline.

There will be a decision to make with Dael Fry coming back from suspension, after Paddy McNair contributed to the side keeping a clean sheet last weekend.

Matt Clarke remains ruled out through injury as does Darnell Fisher.

Here, we are predicting one change to be made ahead of taking on 23rd placed Blackpool…

The quality of the bench at Boro at the moment is excellent, Duncan Watmore came on against Watford before departing to Millwall on deadline day, but to be able to call on the likes of Matt Crooks, Isaiah Jones and Alex Mowatt if things are not going to plan is a real luxury for Carrick to have.

Blackpool will pose a different kind of test for Boro on Saturday, more likely to sit off under McCarthy than other second tier sides will, and that could mean Carrick has to change things up for them to make a breakthrough later on in the piece.

Fry comes back in for McNair as the only suggested change, with the latter struggling to really assert himself as a go-to starter since Carrick has arrived on Teesside.