Michael Carrick confirms fresh double injury blow ahead of Chelsea vs Middlesbrough game

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has confirmed he's sweating over the fitness of key duo Jonny Howson and Isaiah Jones ahead of their season-defining Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg visit to Chelsea. 

Boro are hoping to defy the odds and reach Wembley at the expense of Mauricio Pochettino's expensively assembled side. They gave themselves hope when they kept a clean sheet at the Riverside Stadium and Hayden Hackney scored the only goal to secure a first-leg win.

The Championship side are hoping to reach the League Cup final for the first time in 20 years, but manager Carrick who saw his side held at home by bottom-placed Rotherham this weekend says Howson and Jones are doubts for the trip to London on Tuesday night.

He told Gazettelive: “Jonny took a knock in training so we're just seeing how he is. That wasn't a rest or anything, he wasn't available. I don't know for Chelsea. I'm hopeful but I don't know for sure.

“We’re waiting to see on Izzy(Isaiah Jones). We’re hoping that will be a bit of a nerve or neuro problem rather than a muscle injury. But at this stage, we don’t know. I’m hoping for the best, but we’ll have to wait and see. We’ll wait on the medical team and find out where he is at.

"I wouldn’t risk him, or any players, long-term, if they weren’t capable. Listen, Tuesday is an important game and a big game, but we’ll see who we’ve got available and pick the best team."

Chelsea have their own injury issues with captain Reece James and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez amongst a host of players missing, while French forward Christopher Nkunku is still a doubt due to a hip problem.