Michael Carrick is delighted with Mark Travers’ impact at Middlesbrough - with his handling of the difficult situation in front of him particularly impressing the Boro head coach.
Travers arrived on loan from Bournemouth in the January transfer window after injuries to Sol Brynn and Seny Dieng. In what has largely been a tricky period for Boro since the winter window closed, Travers has proven a success story of the window.
Despite playing without any recognised centre-backs at Luton, the 25-year-old kept his second Boro clean sheet after a string of impressive first-half saves. The shot-stopper’s form has generally been solid since arriving, despite the fact he’s faced multiple changes in front of him due to Boro’s increasing injury misfortune.
Asked about the Cherries loanee after his man-of-the-match display at Kenilworth Road, Carrick said: “It’s not been easy for him coming in when there's so much chopping and changing with the position and personnel in front of you. That's a challenge in itself.
“I think it’s 18 or 19 times throughout the season we’ve had to change the centre back pairing. That's a lot. I’d think other teams in the league will probably do it like three or four times maybe, at a guess. That provides a challenge, especially for the goalkeeper. And we've had four keepers as well!
“He's got a really good character. He's a good goalkeeper and he's had to make some good saves for us. That’s what we obviously brought him in for and hope for. We don't want him to have to make saves, but, when needed, and especially today to contribute to a clean sheet, is a big one for us.
“Mark made some big saves when we needed him, but he came for some crosses as well, and had a really good presence in the box from set plays and corners, and we needed that. It was a shared contribution and he had to make saves for us which were important.”
Carrick will be hoping that Travers can continue his form for the final eight games of the season as Boro look to pick up as many points as possible to give themselves a chance of finishing in the top six. They’re three points adrift of the play-off places as things stand.
Beyond that, there are suggestions Travers could be available for transfer this summer, as Bournemouth reportedly plot a move for fellow countryman Caoimhin Kelleher. With Boro keen to push academy product Sol Brynn though, it remains to be seen whether they could or would commit to a permanent Travers deal that as well as a sizable fee, would also likely require a big wage package.