Tees

Image source, Rex Features

New West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray will have good knowledge of opponents Middlesbrough when they meet on Tuesday, according to head coach Michael Carrick.

Former Middlesbrough defender and manager Mowbray took over at the Baggies last week after recovering from bowel cancer.

"It's obviously been a challenging time for Tony and his family - he came to the ground and watched us so he's got a good idea of what we do, but it's been great to know he's been back," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"He was going to come and watch us train at some point but he never got around to doing that, and now he's got a fantastic job and it's a new chapter for him and health-wise it's all positive, so it'll be nice to see him again."

Carrick said it could be "a number of weeks" before injured duo Riley McGree and Anfernee Dijksteel return, while on-loan midfielder Ben Doak and forward Emmanuel Latte Lath will be available despite rumours surrounding their futures.

Image source, Rex Features

Michael Carrick insisted his Middlesbrough side need to "change the cycle" after losing 2-1 at relegation-threatened Portsmouth.

Boro have won just one of their last six league outings and were nudged out of the play off places by West Brom following defeat at Fratton Park.

Carrick said: "I'm bitterly disappointed with the result and the way we finished the game. We're hurting tonight and we have to change the cycle.

"We put ourselves in a good position at a tough place to come and dealt with it for 50-odd minutes.

"The second goal would have been important for us and this is the type of place there is always a moment.

"We spoke about that at half-time and the first goal we conceded was an awful one for us.

"It's a position we've been in recently where we've put ourselves in great positions but not got anything from it. We've got to change that pretty quickly."