the absent of key players a big concern and a boost for exeter clash says

Clarke’s last appearance for Boro came in early October last year, before the 27-year-old was struck down with a problematic back injury.

It was a nightmare period for the former West Brom and Portsmouth man but after finally getting to the bottom of the problem, the centre-half has made good progress in recent weeks, has trained well and has been an unused substitute in Boro’s last two league games.

And with Carrick expected to shuffle his pack in Tuesday night’s fourth round tie as he deals with a number of injuries, Clarke could get his first taste of action this season.

“There’s every chance he could feature, yeah,” admitted Carrick in his press conference on Monday afternoon.

There have been no fresh setbacks for Carrick to deal with ahead of the last 16 clash against League One Exeter but the head coach says none of his injured players are in contention to return for the cup tie.

That means the likes of Darragh Lenihan, Riley McGree and Marcus Forss will again be missing, while Tommy Smith and Lewis O’Brien are both long-term absentees. Hayden Hackney is available to return having served a one-match suspension.

Carrick said:  “There’s nothing new with injuries, that’s the best way to put it. That’s a positive. It’s as we were really.”

Asked whether any of the injured players are close to returning, he said: “Not particularly, not in the next few days anyway, it’s a little bit further than that.”

Midfielder McGree has missed the last four games with a foot injury and at this stage Carrick isn’t sure when the Australian international will be ready to return.

He said: “He’s had a problem with his foot, a plantar fascia problem. They’re notoriously difficult ones to predict time-wise and it’s taking it step by step and managing it as it comes.

“That’s why I can’t really give you an exact timeline. We’re seeing how it goes day by day and we’ll have to wait and see.”