MICHAEL CARRICK claims Middlesbrough have established “strong foundations” within the playing squad that will prevent a need to make wholesale changes in the next few transfer windows.

The Teessiders have shifted their transfer focus in the last 12 months, placing an increased emphasis on the purchase of younger, more unproven players than might have been the case in the past.

There is still a degree of flexibility within their approach, resulting in the loan acquisitions of the likes of Lewis O’Brien and Luke Ayling to fill gaps in the first team, but when it comes to making permanent signings, Boro’s recruitment team have brought in a batch of youngsters who are now successfully embedded within the squad.

The shift in policy paid dividends spectacularly when Morgan Rogers joined Aston Villa for £15m in January, just six months after Boro had shelled out around £1m to sign him from Manchester City, but last summer’s other signings remain key components of Carrick’s senior group.

The likes of Rav van den Berg, Lukas Engel, Sammy Silvera and Emmanuel Latte Lath should continue to progress next season, along with January arrival Finn Azaz, meaning this summer should not see the kind of major upheaval that was required ahead of the start of the current campaign.

“I do feel there is a lot to be optimistic about,” said Carrick, whose side headed into the international break seven points adrift of the play-off positions with eight games still to play. “We can’t let results dictate the feeling around this place too much, but I get that it will for fans.

“When I take a step back, though, look at the foundations, then you see we’re trying to build something and you have to have the foundations to build on. I do feel we’ve got that.

READ MORE:

“We all want instant success, we all crave that, the boys certainly do as well. But I do feel that, going about it the way that we are, longevity and the steps to improve are a lot better when they come from a strong foundation than a bit more sporadic way of going transfer window to transfer window.”

Carrick accepts there is also a need to continue progressing on the pitch, and to that end, there will be a sense of disappointment if, as looks increasingly likely, Boro miss out on a place in the play-offs, having finished in the top six last season.

Perspective is needed though, and with the average age of the squad having been significantly reduced, Boro’s head coach remains convinced this has been a season when the club has moved forward.

“Sometimes, it takes a bit of time,” said Carrick. “Sometimes, you’ve got to help the younger boys - it can’t all be about them, but sometimes you do have to help them develop and give them experience.

“So that’s quite exciting for me. I’m fully aware that it’s about results and it’s about finishing as high up the league as possible because that’s what we’re all in it for. But those foundations, they give me a lot of hope for what’s coming up.”