Carrick Praises Fry’s Dedication Following Injury Return

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has commended defender Dael Fry for his commitment to regaining full fitness. The 27-year-old, who joined his hometown club at the age of seven, made his initial start after a 10-month injury layoff as Boro secured a 3-1 victory over Hull at the Riverside. Prior to Saturday’s fixture, Fry’s last competitive start occurred on 10 February against Bristol City. A pelvic issue subsequently brought an end to his 2023-24 season and hindered his pre-season preparations, with further complications limiting him to only a couple of appearances with the under-21s in recent months. Fry had been a consistent presence in the first team before his injury but had only played 15 minutes as a substitute in the 5-1 win against Luton on 9 November before this weekend. Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Carrick stated: “Dael’s been out injured for a lot longer than what we first thought he would be. It’s been frustrating but credit to him for how he’s handled it. He’s worked so hard behind the scenes. It’s not easy to come back into a game like that too. It was a big day for him and he stepped up fantastically well.”