Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick reveals Sol Brynn injury timeline that could alter January plans | OneFootball

The Boro boss has confirmed that his young goalkeeper is set to miss the majority of the second half of the season...

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has confirmed that goalkeeper Sol Brynn will be sidelined for at least three months with a dislocated shoulder.

Boro endured a frantic and frankly shambolic second half against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day, as the Teessiders had to settle for a point having surrendered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with the Owls.

However, multiple Middlesbrough players were forced off with injuries at the Riverside Stadium that afternoon, and unfortunately for Carrick, Boxing Day has landed a knockout punch on his goalkeeper Brynn.

The 24-year-old was absent from Boro's matchday squad for their 0-0 draw with Burnley on 29 December, as supporters held their breath and crossed their fingers in the hopes of hearing positive news surrounding their newly anointed starting shot-stopper.

That news didn't come, and in fact, their worst fears have indeed come true.

"I feel really sorry for him" - Michael Carrick confirms Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn will face months on the sideline

Speaking post-match via The Northern Echo after Middlesbrough's hard-fought draw with Burnley, Carrick confirmed that Brynn is set to miss the majority of the second half of the season with a dislocated shoulder injury.

Carrick said: “It’s not great with Sol. He’s going to be out for three months at least. He’s dislocated his shoulder. We thought it was a bad one at the time.

“It was innocuous the way it happened, something you’d do every day in training. It’s around three months – I’m not saying it’s three months to the day, but it’s around those lines that he’ll be out for.

“I’ve been giving Sol plenty of messages over the last few days and supporting him. I think he’s handling it particularly well. It’s a setback for him, but it’s a setback coming from a really positive place in terms of the games he’s played, how well he’s done and what he’s learned.

“He’s not had that experience before, so it’s all new. It’s almost about using this time now to take it all in and ask, ‘Right, when I’m back, how can I improve? What level can I get to?’

“He’s really unfortunate and I feel really sorry for him because of the timing of things and how it’s come about. He actually makes a really good save.”

Brynn's injury may alter Middlesbrough's January transfer window plans

On the eve of the January transfer window, it's fair to say that the timing of Brynn's injury has come at a hugely significant period in Middlesbrough's season.

With many Boro supporters being impressed by his performances since stepping into the starting role in mid-November, eyes were being cast to other departments of Carrick's squad in regard to where the club might strengthen in the new year.

However, a serious reassessment of the goalkeeping situation will now surely have to be undertaken, as the Teessiders are now firmly down to the bare bones between the sticks.

Senegalese international Seny Dieng has largely been the number one since last season, but he too has endured numerous injury problems during his time on Teesside and is currently sidelined with a hip problem.

That's left third-choice keeper Tom Glover as Carrick's only remaining senior option, with teenager Shea Connor promoted to the backup role in Dieng's absence.

Glover has largely struggled to prove that he's a reliable starting goalkeeper in a side chasing Premier League promotion, but was able to put in a performance against the Clarets that saw him complete everything that was asked from him successfully.

That will give Carrick some confidence that he can lean on the Australian, but the credit in the bank he will have may still not be enough for Boro's decision-makers to feel safe heading into the second half of the campaign with the goalkeeping options available to them.