Carrick says McGree’s latest injury “is not a long-term thing” but the Australian international won’t be available for Saturday’s visit of the Canaries.
McGree has started just 11 Championship games this season. The midfielder missed 12 games between January and March and after returning to the squad for four games – being used once from the bench – he suffered a further setback which ruled him out of the games against Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday.
And he’ll again be absent this weekend.
It’s not clear at this stage whether McGree will be back for the final day trip to Coventry, but longer-term Boro are trying to get to the bottom of why the 26-year-old has suffered so many frustrating setbacks in the last couple of seasons.
“Riley is not quite ready yet,” said boss Michael Carrick.
“He’s had some treatment again this week. He’s gone to see a specialist and we are hopeful he will be back in and around it next week.”
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There was some good news on the injury front at the start of this week, with Darragh Lenihan returning to the bench at Sheffield Wednesday after an 18-month absence.
Carrick doesn’t expect the defender to feature in the final two games of the season but reiterated why it’s such a boost to have 31-year-old back.
He said: “Repeating what I said the other day, having Darragh back around the group – forgetting where in the season and what’s at stake – just to have him back is great.
“He’s put a lot of work in, gone through a lot of ups and downs, and it’s been a long, old slog for him.
“Having him around the group, training every day again and smiling is, for me, genuinely great to see.
“Having his experience and knowhow in the dressing room is a big plus.”
There have been further behind the scene boosts for a couple of other long-term absentees, with Sol Brynn and Alex Bangura both now back in training, but neither will feature in the final weeks of the season.
Bangura has missed the entire campaign after suffering a serious Achilles injury in the summer, while Brynn dislocated his shoulder in the home draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.
Carrick said: “It’s unlikely for Alex and Sol [to play again this season] – they’ll be a little bit further.
“It’s great news on Alex in that he’s just joined in with the boys for the first time this week.
“It’s very light and still managing him a lot at this stage, but just having him back around the group was fantastic.
“It’s been a long journey for him, like Darragh. Sol has been back on the grass for a little bit, but in terms of the next week or two, it’s impossible for either to come back just yet.”
