By james art 
Michael Carrick did not rule out Alex Gilbert’s transfer this month after the capture of Morgan Whitaker.
Middlesbrough’s head coach earlier suggested that Gilbert’s passage was unlikely, but the arrival of Whitaker adds additional competition at the front of the pitch.
The new addition is signed primarily to play on the right wing in the long run, but Liverpool borrowed Ben Doac currently has this position. Whitaker is versatile and is likely to be used in various roles in the front line in the second half of the season, which can make play time even more difficult for Gilbert, who has only played 70 minutes in the Championship so far season.
Gilbert was a secondary figure last season, but took advantage of his capabilities and impressed at the end of the campaign, which led to Boro, who refused to rent the former Brentford player in the summer.
But his progress was interrupted by a knee injury in September, which left him out of the game for two months, and since then he had to settle for camees from the bench.
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After noting the dramatic late winner in the New Year’s Eve, Gilbert admitted that his lack of football was “difficult” to deal with, but told his “love” for Boro.
But Finn Azaz is the first choice of Carrick under number 10 and Whitaker will hopes to play a key role in the second half of the season.
Asked if the addition of the Plymouth attacker can potentially mean moving to Gilbert, Karik said: “This week is what it is. Decisions for a number of things have to be made. We will have to wait and see. “
A striker has already leased this month, with Mika Hamilton contacting Stockport by the end of the season. He made his debut from the reserve bench for the pursuers for promotion in League 1 in a 2-0 victory over Crowley on Saturday.
Carrick said, “It was only to provide him with a good set of games. He could stay here and at one stage we looked at this and we could be around and be around him.
“But then things change a little and we decided it would be best for him to go and play and do really well, and we hope he will come back stronger for us at the end of the season.”
If Boro decided to loan to Gilbert this month, he would not miss players as several clubs followed the situation with the attacker. Swansea City was connected earlier in the window.
Another Boro player, who is said to have attracted interest from elsewhere, is Matt Clark, who is associated with a return to the former Darby County club.
Clark’s last launch came to the loss in Championship to Leeds in December, and since then he only appeared once from the bench.
Karik said: “It is difficult to say with individuals at this stage of the season. There is a little to go this week, a few guys who have to think about what is best for us and them and decide it. You will see how it works. “