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Middlesbrough have to beat Norwich City in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday to keep their Championship play-off hopes alive.
Middlesbrough were predicted to finish second in the Championship right before the 2024/25 season got underway.
However, Boro have greatly underperformed those expectations, sitting seventh in the division going into the penultimate round of games.
Middlesbrough lost to Sheffield Wednesday on Easter Monday despite going 1-0 up against a team who had been in dire form at home until this week.
It leaves the North East outfit having to beat Norwich City to guarantee they remain in with a chance of finishing sixth on the final day of the season.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 5 |  Bristol CityBristol City | 44 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 57 | 49 | 8 | 67 |
| 6 |  CoventryCoventry | 44 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 62 | 57 | 5 | 66 |
| 7 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 44 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 64 | 54 | 10 | 63 |
| 8 |  MillwallMillwall | 44 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 45 | 46 | -1 | 63 |
| 9 |  BlackburnBlackburn | 44 | 18 | 8 | 18 | 50 | 46 | 4 | 62 |
As a result, it’s imperative that Michael Carrick nails his team selection on the day.
Dael Fry returns as Jonny Howson dropped vs Norwich City
Boro kick-off at 3pm and there could be a surprise change to the team.
A lack of quality depth caused by injuries and poor decisions in the transfer market means there is not too much the Boro boss can change against Norwich.
But it would make a lot of sense for Dael Fry to make his return to the starting line-up.
Amid problems with the likes of Fry and Rav van den Berg, Jonny Howson has shone for Middlesbrough at times when playing as a central defender.
However, the midfielder wasn’t great earlier this week, and his potential replacement has looked, as expected, a much more competent defender when fit and available.
Aside from dropping Howson for Fry, we could see Delano Burgzorgo make his return to the eleven after being axed against the Owls.
- READ MORE: Middlesbrough and Millwall in transfer battle for 6ft 5 defender wanted by Bundesliga clubs
Middlesbrough injury update before Norwich City
As already mentioned, Boro have had plenty of injury problems across the 2024/25 season.
Riley McGree is expected to miss out for the North East outfit again, along with the likes of Sol Brynn and Alex Bangura.
However, speaking in his pre-match press conference this week, Carrick did provide positive updates on Brynn and the forgotten left-back.
He said: “It’s unlikely for Alex and Sol – they’ll be a little bit further. It’s great news on Alex in that he’s just joined in with the boys for the first time this week. It’s very light and still managing him a lot at this stage, but just having him back around the group was fantastic.
“It’s been a long journey for him, like Darragh. Sol has been back on the grass for a little bit, but in terms of the next week or two, it’s impossible for either to come back just yet.”