That includes Rav van den Berg and Hayden Hackney, who were both given an extended break before reporting back having featured in the European Under-21 Championships.
Van den Berg was the subject of fresh transfer speculation over the weekend, amid fresh links with Brentford, who are understood to be long-term admirers of the defender. Van den Berg is also of interest to Crystal Palace, who are also closely monitoring Hackney’s situation this summer.
There aren’t any notable senior absentees from the current squad, though the future of Jonny Howson remains uncertain after the 37-year-old’s contract expired at the end of last month.
Boro had their first full week of pre-season training at Rockliffe but will now step up their preparations for the coming campaign with a week-long camp in Portugal, which culminates with a training match against unspecific opposition on Saturday.
New head coach Rob Edwards picked a squad of 27 for the trip, which includes senior players returning from long-term injuries such as Darragh Lenihan, Alex Bangura and Sol Brynn. The trio are all fit, which is a major boost for Edwards.
So too is the availability of Riley McGree, who endured a frustrating campaign of injury setbacks last term but is now desperate to get back to his best after two injury-disrupted seasons.
Seny Dieng resumed light training last week after his serious Achilles injury but isn’t at the stage where he’s ready to join in with the squad.
Alex Gilbert, Sammy Silvera and Micah Hamilton, who were all out on loan at the end of last season, are also part of the squad, as Edwards continues to cast his eye over his options. The head coach told at his unveiling of his desire to give every player an opportunity.
A number of young players who impressed Edwards at Rockliffe last week are also part of the travelling party. Goalkeeper Shea Connor, left-back George McCormick, midfielders Law McCabe and Luke Woolston and forward Sonny Finch were all selected to travel.
So too was Brayden Johnson, the teenager who joined from Eastbourne Borough in January. The midfielder has impressed since arriving six months ago, and spent a period at the end of last season out on loan at Gateshead in the National League.
Both McCabe and Finch have been around the first team squad for a couple of years now and will be looking to put frustrating seasons behind them. McCabe didn’t play a single Championship minute last season, while Finch’s loan move to MK Dons didn’t go to plan. He returned to Rockliffe in January but couldn’t join another club in the second half of the season having played for Boro in the early stages of the Carabao Cup.
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MIDDLESBROUGH’S SQUAD IN PORTUGAL:
GOALKEEPERS
Sol Brynn
Tom Glover
Shea Connor
DEFENDERS
Luke Ayling
Rav van den Berg
Dael Fry
George Edmundson
Darragh Lenihan
Neto Borges
Alex Bangura
George McCormick
MIDFIELDERS
Hayden Hackney
Aiden Morris
Dan Barlaser
Riley McGree
Alex Gilbert
Law McCabe
Luke Woolston
Brayden Johnson
Sammy Silvera
Finn Azaz
Morgan Whittaker
Micah Hamilton
FORWARDS
Tommy Conway
Marcus Forss
Delano Burgzorg
Sonny Finch
