Tony Mowbray says Scott McDonald could still feature for Middlesbrough this season

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray says forgotten Scott McDonald could still feature for him, even though he has been sidelined so far this term.

"Scott McDonald has to keep doing what he does in training, keep working hard and try to get himself into the team." Mowbray insists that Boro are not missing a prolific marksman by not using the Australian. "I have to say, with total respect to Scott McDonald, that he's been here two years and he hasn't scored a bagful of goals," said Mowbray. "But it's a question I understand people asking because he cost a lot of money. "Yet if we had a 30-goal a season man sat in the stands or sitting at home I could understand the question a bit more maybe. "But with respect to Scott McDonald, he's just another name on my team sheet or not on my team sheet. "Scott just needs to get his head down and keep working hard and see what happens." Boro will hope that they could move McDonald on via the loan market which opens this weekend.

Carayol

Meanwhile, Mowbray is hoping the international break will give Middlesbrough forward Mustapha Carayol a chance to overcome his knee injury. The former Bristol Rovers man missed Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Millwall after sustaining the problem in the midweek Capital One Cup victory at Gillingham and was conspicuous by his absence. Mowbray told the club's official website: "Carayol was a big miss for us. He has shown what he can bring to our team. "He has hyper-extended his knee, but fingers crossed he will be okay in a few weeks' time. "He brings a different dimension to the team, which is why he is here. He is still a young boy and we have to put it into context. "He has come from the second division and we shouldn't be hanging our hat on him, but I do think he can bring us something we have been missing."