The Blues make the long journey to the Riverside Stadium knowing they are 180 minutes from a Wembley final. Yet that cannot be the focus, as Pochettino stressed ahead of the contest.

'Step by step is the most important thing for a team that needs to improve like we do,' the Argentine explained at his pre-match press conference. 'We must expend all of our energy tomorrow, that is the most important.

'We must not go there and think, 'It's ok, we have a second leg to play, just in case'. No, tomorrow is most important, tomorrow we need to come back with a victory. Then we finish at Stamford Bridge.

'We must respect the opponent, know it is a good team, and know is going to be a really tough game.'

With very little time between Saturday's FA Cup win over Preston North End and our trip to the North East, the work undertaken at Cobham was focused on both recovery and preparation.

After exercises in the gym, it was out onto the training pitches for the players just as snow began to fall.

There was the welcome sight of Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile, and Carney Chukwuemeka in first-team training. Whether any of that trio is deemed ready to make a return from injury against Middlesbrough remains to be seen.

One player who is likely to be involved is Malo Gusto. The France international has stepped up in the absence of club captain Reece James and produced several impressive displays, either at right-back or at left-back.

'I am so pleased,' said Pochettino. 'He is a player that is so young but looks more mature than he is.

'He came from a complicated situation at Lyon because in the final months there he was injured and didn’t play. Then he came here and had to adapt to a new country, new football, and it was tough.

'But he is doing well, I am so happy with him. Always with young kids the mindset can be different. We need to give him time to realise, especially as he is a young player who came from France.

'It’s always about adapting, learning and improving. We are in a good process, he is doing well, and I am so happy that can perform now that Reece is out. He has made a good contribution to the club and to the team.'

One player who will be aiming to maintain their good form in the Carabao Cup this season is Cole Palmer. The England international has claimed two assists in three matches thus far – and he also converted a nerveless penalty in the shootout win over Newcastle United.