"Definitely" - Middlesbrough FC play-off claim dismissed after Ben Doak, Liverpool news | OneFootball

FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit has been speaking on the impact losing Ben Doak may have on Boro's Championship play-off hopes.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Middlesbrough have been dealt a devastating injury blow to Liverpool loanee Ben Doak, with news that Boro's star winger has returned to Anfield having undergone surgery.

This revelation was revealed by The Northern Echo on Thursday, which comes after the Scotland international suffered a thigh problem in training ahead of Middlesbrough's Tees-Wear derby with Sunderland on 3 February.

It was hoped that the 19-year-old had avoided a significant injury setback, and that it wouldn't be long before he was back tearing up the Championship down Michael Carrick's right flank.

However, after returning to parent club Liverpool to undergo a "minor procedure", that wouldn't appear to be the case.

Carrick hasn't ruled out the possibility of Doak returning to Boro before the end of the season, but that is perhaps more out of optimism rather than expectation.

We asked our Middlesbrough fan pundit, Jasper Hudson: 'Ben Doak undergoes surgery and has returned to Liverpool for rehab; he's expected to miss a large chunk of the last 11 games of the season. Do you think this all-but ends Middlesbrough's play-off hopes given his unique drive and skillset out wide, or do Boro still have enough to make a dart towards the top six?'

Hudson said: "Ben Doak's a fantastic player, and he's been excellent for us this season.

"But in the last few games, Morgan Whittaker, Finn Azaz, Marcus Forss and Tommy Conway, that front four have been able to perform quite well. Interlinking, they've worked quite well together as a front four.

"So, I don't think Doak's injury ends our play-off push. I think we've got a squad that is good enough, and those are some of the top attackers in the Championship; Whittaker, Azaz, Conway.

"So whilst Ben Doak is a big miss, there's definitely still enough talent to push for the play-offs."

Middlesbrough and Michael Carrick will have confidence in his attacking options despite Doak's injury

Middlesbrough may be short for strength in depth in certain areas of the pitch, especially in defence, but one department that has remained stocked with quality talent throughout the campaign is their options in wide areas.

So much so that Isaiah Jones, a long-time starting option under Carrick, was granted the opportunity to seek a fresh start with Luton Town in January, in a deal that banked Boro around £5m.

Following his departure, that money was reinvested in order to secure the signing of Plymouth Argyle talisman Whittaker, as he swapped Home Park for the Riverside Stadium in a deal reported to have been worth an initial £5m.

He, along with Forss and fellow winter window addition Samuel Iling-Junior, make up a deep and talented group of right-wingers for Carrick to choose from.

Forss, Iling-Junior and Whittaker did all struggle in Boro's 1-0 defeat to Swansea City on Saturday, however, and were both withdrawn in the second half (Forss at half-time), a result that leaves the Teessiders five points adrift of sixth-placed West Brom ahead of Tuesday's home game against QPR.

But, whilst the Middlesbrough head coach will be highly disappointed to see his side disarmed of a deadly weapon in Doak and the performances of his forwards at the Swansea.com Stadium, he will no doubt still have unwavering confidence and belief that the options he can call upon will ensure Boro's cutting edge remains sharp in that area of the pitch moving forward.