Carrick Anticipates Long-Term Squad Benefits from Rotation

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick anticipates his team will gain advantages from rotating the starting lineup during the latter half of the season. His squad currently holds sixth place as they get ready to host ninth-placed Sheffield Wednesday. The 43-year-old coach made a decision to start Tommy Conway over Emmanuel Latte Lath in Boro’s engaging 3-3 draw against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. This was one of three alterations made to the team that had begun the match against Millwall seven days prior, which resulted in a victory. “I think as a whole group the boys have played a lot of games between them and that has been a big plus for us moving through the season,” Carrick stated to BBC Radio Tees, speaking before his team’s sold-out Boxing Day fixture against Sheffield Wednesday. Latte Lath entered the game as a substitute in the 75th minute at Home Park, finding the net just nine minutes after his introduction. Carrick is convinced that rotating his key attacking players will enhance his team’s prospects for a play-off push in the upcoming new year. “Tommy [Conway] scored a goal which was onside which was given offside, it was a good finish from Tommy, and Manu [Latte Lath] took his chance fantastically well and got us right back in the game so, yeah, pleased with both of them,” Carrick commented. He added, “I would like to think that we’ll get the benefits further through the season – I think the boys individually are looking in a good place.”