MIDDLESBROUGH'S pre-season plans are in place and Michael Carrick is already relishing the return of his squad to Rockliffe.

But when Carrick addressed his squad after Saturday's Watford victory brought the season to a close, he stressed  the importance of switching off and resting in the coming weeks so the players return in the summer fully fresh, recovered physically and mentally and ready to go.

The summer break started immediately after Saturday's game for Boro's players. They will each be given a tailored programme to work on throughout the off-season to ensure they return to Rockliffe in good shape.

But on the back of a draining season, the priority for Carrick and his backroom team is first ensuring his players recover - with the squad set to benefit from a longer break than they did 12 months ago, when their season stretched into the play-offs.

Having known for a few weeks they'd be playing Championship football next term, they've also been able to nail down the structure of their pre-season.

"Last year was very different to this year," said Carrick.

"We knew this year that this (Watford) was the last game and we can plan knowing what league we’re in.

"It’s a longer break as well, because it was only about three-and-a-half weeks compared to this year which is not far off double that."

Carrick added: “Rest is vital for the players. They probably don’t get enough of it over the course of the season, with the way that the calendar is. The season doesn’t really allow for it much.

"Certainly now, for the boys, it’s important they use the time to rest up and to get rid of all those niggles because there won’t be anyone in that dressing room who is 100% fit.

"I can’t remember playing a game where you’re actually 100% fit - even when you think or feel you are, you never truly are. So it’s important they rest up.

"Just as important, the mental challenge for next season starts now really. The preparation is key, and part of that preparation is doing things right through your holidays - through the summer - to give you the best chance to come back fit and raring to go.

"There will be a programme for each player and a bit of a structured plan for them in terms of what to do when. But for the first two or three weeks, it’s important to switch off and not do a lot. Enjoy the time off, enjoy life, spend time with the family and do what they’ve got to do before gradually getting back into the swing of things. Pre-season is all sorted now, so we’ll take our break and then look forward to getting back to it then."

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Boro are understood to be planning to return to Portugal - where they've been the last two summers - for a pre-season trip, though it's not clear at this stage whether they'll play any games there. Last year they played a behind-closed doors friendly.

There'll be a string of domestic friendlies, to be announced by the club in due course.

Boro's Under-21s are heading for Germany in July to take part in a pre-season tournament in Niederrheinstadion in Oberhausen. a town twinned with Middlesbrough.

Carrick himself will have a break, though he admits that's not easy for a head coach, and he'll be in close contact with the recruitment team in the coming weeks ahead of the summer transfer window.

He said: "There is an element of trying to switch off, but there is always something going on in my mind about what we need to do to be better, how we can improve things and so on.

"As much as I enjoy the time with the family, there’s always something niggling away at the back of the mind."