AIDAN MORRIS is still in the United States undergoing a full assessment of the knee injury that has forced him out of international duty, and is receiving an initial bout of treatment in his home country before returning to Middlesbrough.
Morris suffered what has been described as a “knee right sprain” during training with the US national team last week.
The Boro midfielder was immediately withdrawn from the squad for both legs of a Nations League quarter-final against Jamaica.
Boro’s medical staff held discussions with their counterparts in the US national team set-up, and it was decided to allow Morris to remain in the United States for a full assessment rather than rush him back across the Atlantic.
The 23-year-old has had a series of scans, and is understood to have been working with the US medical team in the last few days.
At this stage, it is unclear when he will return to Teesside, with sources stating that Boro officials are reluctant to make any calls over the severity of the injury or the likely recovery period until the scan results are fully analysed.
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Given that he has not been training in the last few days, though, Morris is clearly an early doubt for Boro’s return to domestic action against Oxford United at the weekend. Knee injuries can result in a much longer-term absence, although at this stage, there is no indication that the midfielder has suffered a serious problem.
Morris’ injury has coincided with Hayden Hackney’s withdrawal from England Under-21 duty with a problem of his own.
Hackney left Ben Futcher’s England Under-21 squad at the end of last week, ahead of Friday’s goalless draw with Spain. He was also ruled out of this evening’s game against the Netherlands.
Unlike Morris, Hackney did make a rapid return to Rockliffe Park, enabling him to be assessed by Boro’s medical staff over the weekend. The nature of Hackney’s injury has not been disclosed, although the fact he was withdrawn from England Under-21s international double-header does not necessarily mean he has suffered a serious issue. In the past, players have been withdrawn from Under-21 duty as a precaution rather than because of a major problem.
Nevertheless, Michael Carrick will be hoping for some good news in the next few days as he plans his line-up for Saturday’s trip to the Kassam Stadium. Morris has started all bar one of Boro’s league games so far this season, while Hackney’s only absence came as a result of his suspension following his sending off in the defeat to Coventry.
If both central midfielders were to be unavailable at the weekend, Carrick would almost certainly have to start with Jonny Howson and Dan Barlaser at the heart of midfield against Oxford. Both players have only made one Championship start so far this season, but they boast considerable experience. The absence of one or both of Morris and Hackney could also open up a route to the first team for teenager Law McCabe, who played in August’s Carabao Cup defeat to Stoke.
