Middlesbrough FC: Michael Carrick urged to make Anfernee Dijksteel decision with Ryan Giles in mind v Bristol City | OneFootball

Boro need to start winning again soon, with the top six starting to build a gap over the Teessiders.

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 are in desperate need of a win to keep themselves in the hunt for the play-offs after a dreadful few weeks in the Championship.

Michael Carrick has come under a huge amount of pressure during this time, however, the club's owner, Steve Gibson, has backed his manager to turn the team's form around and get them back on track for a top six finish.

Boro are now 11th in the table following their fourth defeat in a row on Saturday to Watford FC, with the 1-0 loss proving to be their fifth in six league games.

Middlesbrough make the long journey to Ashton Gate at the weekend to face Bristol City, with the two sides separated in the table by just two points. Victory would put Carrick's side back into contention for a play-off finish, but changes will be needed to have any chance of that in the south-west.

Carrick urged to make one important defensive change v Bristol City

The Teessideres have won just one game in the Championship in 2025, picking up three vital points against West Bromwich Albion at the end of January. But, performances have not been good enough since then and defensive mistakes are costing them on an almost weekly basis.

Carrick has taken the brunt of the blames for the results, but he does need more support from his players as some games are turning in moments that could and should be avoided.

Saturday offers Boro the opportunity to right some of the wrongs of the last few weeks and a win would push them back into contention for a top six finish.

Football League World has asked their Middlesbrough Fan Pundit, Jasper Hudson, which one change he would make to the starting XI against Bristol City.

He told FLW: "There's obviously been lots of defensive issues at the minute, so I think it's key we make a change there and I'm split between either Anfernee Dijksteel in for Luke Ayling or Dael Fry in for George Edmundson, if I could only make one change.

"I think Dijksteel coming in would be beneficial because I think he offers us more attacking threat as well, but if we want to go with Ryan Giles at left wing-back, I feel like Dijksteel is much better and much more athletic to help cover in that makeshift back three when Giles wants to push forward.

"But I also think it could be really beneficial to have a leader like Fry who knows the club and I guess you'd hope he understands the fans' perspective a bit more."

Jasper continued: "But if I had to make one change, it'd be Dijksteel in for Ayling if he’s 100% fit. He's been the much better right-back this season. In the last few games, Ayling’s not been at it although the defence as a whole hasn’t been. But I feel like Dijksteel offers a lot more athleticism, which helps with our more open style of play.

"I also feel like you can have that direct benefit of being able to copy that Tommy Smith role of a year or two ago, of tucking in to make it a back three if we play Giles, and that allows Giles to push forward."

Dijksteel can help freshen up the defence for Middlesbrough

Dijksteel has spent the majority of 2025 in the treatment room, but he came off the bench against Watford for the final half an hour as the Hornets ran out 1-0 winners at the Riverside Stadium.

Despite not being able to have too much of an influence on the game, his return to the pitch is the exact kind of boost that Middlesbrough have needed for a number of weeks and Carrick will be hoping that he is ready to play a full 90 sooner rather than later.

Ayling has struggled greatly over the last couple of months, and freshening up the defensive line is crucial to Boro's success.

A win on Saturday is exactly what Middlesbrough need to get their season back on track and Carrick needs a positive result to help ease the pressure that is on him.