Speaking with Teesside Live, Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick discussed the possibility of bringing back striker Sonny Finch into the first team as well as his impact for the academy team.
Strikers have been a problem for Middlesbrough this season. Josh Coburn and Emmanuel Latte Lath have both had some success finding the net when healthy.
However, the pair’s inability to recover from injuries has limited their chances of getting hot and challenging the top scorers in the Championship.
Teenage Finch was given a few opportunities to play for the first team last season, making three appearances from the bench in the second half of the campaign. But he hasn’t played this season due to injury.
But in just four games since recovering from an injury last month, he has scored four goals and provided one assist. For his efforts, he was named to the bench for Saturday’s 0-0 draw between the senior team and Blackburn Rovers.
“I’m delighted for Finchy. He’s had a few issues with his ankle on and off for a period of time so we took the decision to try and get it sorted now and be patient with him, to give him a period of time to get back training, get fit, spend some time just getting himself back to his level and being really patient with him,” head coach Michael Carrick told Teesside Live.
“He’s playing and scoring goals, that’s kind of what he does. He always finds a way to find the back of the net. It’s great to see. The longer it goes, we’ll get him back around us as time goes on. It’s great to see him back fit, he’s so young and he has his whole career ahead of him. There’s loads of time for him.”
A great long-term option for Middlesbrough
Carrick has upheld Middlesbrough’s tradition of giving young players an opportunity to break into the starting lineup during his time there. After graduating from the academy, players like Dael Fry, Isaiah Jones, and Hayden Hackney have all established themselves on the senior team.
Prior to moving to Bradford City, Carrick continued this trend by giving Finch, Law McCabe, Fin Cartwright, and Calum Kavanagh opportunities. That’s why Carrick’s suggestion that Finch would be used moving forward is not shocking.
The eighteen-year-old offers Boro an excellent long-term option. It is evident how good he is and how good he could be to watch him flourish in the U21 setup at such a young age and be given opportunities in the first team. He’s definitely someone to watch.
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