Michael Carrick could shock us all at 7pm by starting Middlesbrough ace with 100% passing accuracy vs Blackburn

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Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers are set to go head-to-head in a Championship clash at 8pm on Friday, April 4.

Michael Carrick’s men go into the game having secured themselves a rare victory last time out, beating Oxford United 2-1.

That victory, thanks to Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion dropping points in their last matches, moved Middlesbrough to within touching distance of the play-offs.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
5	CoventryCoventry	39	17	8	14	56	51	5	59
6	West BromWest Brom	39	13	18	8	48	35	13	57
7	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	39	16	9	14	59	49	10	57
8	Bristol CityBristol City	39	14	15	10	49	42	7	57
9	WatfordWatford	39	15	8	16	47	51	-4	53

However, the Teessiders have a number of very tough fixtures on the horizon, including meetings with Leeds United and a final-day clash with Frank Lampard’s Coventry.

As a result, it’s imperative they secure all three points when they face a Blackburn Rovers side who have completely collapsed since the departure of John Eustace.

• READ MORE: Former Man Utd ace had major role in Middlesbrough snubbing Premier League striker to sign Kelechi Iheanacho

Shocking change Michael Carrick could make when Middlesbrough face Blackburn Rovers

One BBC and Sky Sports pundit is backing Middlesbrough to beat Blackburn 2-1, while another suggests it will be a stalemate.

However, Boro’s recent record against Rovers is not great, and they are in danger of matching an unwanted feat.

Middlesbrough losing to Blackburn will give Carrick an unwanted 19-year record that hasn’t happened to the North East outfit in 19 years.

As a result, it’s crucial that the former Manchester United midfielder gets his team selection correct.

Injuries are limiting Carrick somewhat, but he could make the shock decision to hand Morgan Whittaker a start.

Since arriving at the Riverside from Plymouth Argyle, the attacker hasn’t exactly set the world alight and has seen his game time reduced in recent weeks.

However, he was excellent when he came off the bench against Oxford, completing every single one of his attempted passes.

Should Whittaker start, it would allow Finn Azaz to take up his preferred 10 role and Delano Burgzorg to move back onto the left, with Kelechi Iheanacho dropping out of the eleven.

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What Michael Carrick has said about Morgan Whitaker

While Whittaker hasn’t seen too much action of late, Carrick has been pleased with the January addition.

Speaking in early March, as per the Northern Echo, the Middlesbrough boss dubbed the Englishman ‘dangerous’.

He said: “I’ve been really pleased with him in the last two games.

“He’s obviously come in and had to get used to everything – the style of play, who he’s playing with, when he gets the ball, where he gets the ball etc.

“You can see he’s starting to fit in and get in the flow of it. He looks dangerous and I’m sure that goal is not far away.”