On Good Friday, Middlesbrough and Plymouth Argyle will compete for valuable Championship points at The Riverside Stadium as they try to win their respective matches at either end of the division.

In their quest for a play-off finish, Michael Carrick’s team is hoping to end a two-game losing streak at home with a much-needed victory.

But as for Plymouth, they are frantically trying to pull off what would be a crucial away win in the North East, as they are now three points outside of safety and have little time left to salvage their season.

Try persuading both groups of supporters that this game is a “must-win” even though Carrick may not want to!

Football League World examines every player from Plymouth and Middlesbrough who will not be involved in this crucial match during Easter weekend, starting with the home team.

 

Alex Bangura

After joining Middlesbrough from SC Cambuur in the summer of 2023, Alex Bangura has had a difficult time due to injuries.

The left-back, 25, hasn’t played a minute for Boro this season because he had surgery on his Achilles in early August. He last played on the last day of the previous campaign against Watford.

Whether he will be healthy enough to participate in any way in Boro’s season before it ends is still up in the air.

Ben Doak

Ben Doak has been having a terrific season on Teesside, so it’s possible that his departure is the one Middlesbrough is feeling the most right now.

That was before the 19-year-old right-winger, who had not been seen since the away loss to Preston on January 25, had to have thigh surgery in March while on loan from Liverpool.

Appearances Goals Assists Avg. match rating
24 3 7 7.11/10

In order to continue his recuperation, the Scottish international has returned to Liverpool. Although Carrick has not ruled out the chance of his rejoining Boro before the season ends, that scenario is becoming less and less likely.

Neto Borges

Neto Borges, a guy who has been having a remarkable comeback at Riverside in recent weeks, has transformed from a Boro boo-boy to one of the team’s most adored players.

However, the Brazilian left-back, who had been playing as a substitute centre-back in recent games, appears to be out for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury sustained following an uncomfortable tumble against Blackburn Rovers.

Darragh Lenihan

Due to his failure to play for Middlesbrough this season, Darragh Lenihan has also become somewhat of a forgotten man on Teesside.

Since September 2023, the 31-year-old central defender has not participated in a competitive match for Boro. He missed the last eight months of the previous season due to initial ankle surgery.

But now, it appears that the Republic of Ireland international may miss the full season as well after sustaining Achilles tendinitis during preseason and other persistent issues during the campaign.

Luke Ayling

Due to the fact that the seasoned right-back had ankle surgery recently, Luke Ayling’s dismal season has only gotten worse.

As a result, Carrick’s options in that area are very limited as the 33-year-old defender is now expected to miss the rest of the season.

 

Seny Dieng

Goalie Seny Dieng may have already played his final game wearing a Middlesbrough shirt, as he has already been declared out for the remainder of the season.

The Senegal international had already lost his spot as Boro’s starting goalie by January when he had surgery on his Achilles.

Sol Brynn

Sol Brynn appeared to be Middlesbrough’s top custodian candidate until Boxing Day, when he suffered a dislocated shoulder against Sheffield Wednesday.

Since then, he has not been seen, raising the possibility that he could yet make a comeback to the team in some capacity before the season ends. However, considering Bournemouth loanee Mark Travers’s outstanding performances since joining in the winter window, he would probably have to settle for a backup position.

Matty Sorinola

Matty Sorinola, a right wing-back who has been one of Plymouth Argyle’s bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season, will miss the remainder of the campaign due to injury.

When Argyle lost to Swansea City 3-0 on April 9, the 24-year-old sustained a quadriceps injury.

Brendan Galloway

Another Pilgrims defender who will not be contributing to the team’s survival effort this season is Brendan Galloway.

The 29-year-old centre-back needed surgery on the upper portion of his leg, which ended his season in January.

Maksym Talovierov

It seems possible that Maksym Talovierov, who was initially sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury sustained in late March, could make a comeback for Plymouth before the season ends.

The Ukrainian international has stated that his recuperation has gone more quickly than anticipated, and he now hopes to play in the season’s final two games.

Sadly for Plymouth, that won’t happen in time for their Teesside trip.

Nikola Katic

Although Nikola Katic, a centre-back, seems to have a chance of playing in Portsmouth’s match against Coventry City on Easter Monday, the Bosnian international won’t be ready to play on Good Friday against Middlesbrough.

That will be a significant setback for Argyle as well, given the 28-year-old has been one of Miron Muslic’s best players since joining on loan from FC Zurich in Switzerland in January.