Middlesbrough injury blow as Michael Carrick confirms Lewis O’Brien will require surgery

Middlesbrough injury latest ahead of Sunderland with updates on Lewis O’Brien, Rav van den Berg and more

Michael Carrick has confirmed that Lewis O’Brien faces two to three months out, with the midfielder requiring

surgery on an ankle/lower leg injury he suffered at Watford.

The Middlesbrough boss had been fearing the worst on the Nottingham Forest loanee immediately after that Watford

win, with O’Brien injured during a challenge in the first half. In the days since, the midfielder has been seeing

specialists to determine to extent and course of action, with that now confirmed.

Carrick said: “Lewis will be out for a period of time. It could be two to three months, which is disappointing. He’s

going to see a surgeon at the start of next week. Hopefully he gets that surgery done, he’ll come back with us, rehab

and recover as soon as he can.

“He’s a great kid and character, and he’ll work hard to be in shape as soon as he can. I feel terrible for him because

he’s gotten along with everyone so well, and it’s a great blow to both Lewis and us. We’ll cooperate with him to return

him as soon as we can.

“There’s a fracture to the tibia as well as a little bit of ankle damage. It’s unfortunate because it was innocuous. His

foot got stuck in the turf and he took a bit of a kick at the same time. Disappointing, really disappointing, but football

is football and Lewis will make the best of the situation as much as he can and we’ll have to move on quick.”

The exact logistics of O’Brien’s rehabilitation period are still to be decided with parent club Nottingham Forest, but

Carrick expects he might spend a bit of time at both clubs in order to keep him in the Boro fold. The current plan is

for him to still see out the remainder of his season-long loan spell at the Riverside after a positive start.

The 24-year-old had made a good first impression at Boro, so the timing of the injury is a particular setback. It came

after a tremendously trying six months for the former Huddersfield player, who had been left hanging back in

January after a proposed transfer to Blackburn fell through because it wasn’t finalised in time. He had to wait until

March before an opportunity to join DC United on loan came up because he wasn’t included on Forest’s 25-man

Premier League roster.

Asked how O’Brien is, Carrick said: “I’ve spoken to him. He’s disappointed. It’s a blow; no footballer wants to have

any period out through injury. But he’s a fantastic character and he’ll do everything he can to be back as soon as

possible, I have no doubt about that.”

It’s a considerable blow to Boro, who worked hard over the summer to secure the loan move for the midfielder, who

was on of the standout performers in the Championship the season before last, earning him his move to newly-

promoted Forest.

INJURY BLOW: Middlesbrough injury latest ahead of Sunderland with updates on Lewis O’Brien, Rav van den Berg and more