Reminder and timely massage to Michael Carrick….

Left-sided player Alex Bangura has started just once in the Championship this season.

For Alex Bangura, life at the Riverside has not been easy to begin with. His Middlesbrough debut against Blackburn Rovers resulted in a hamstring injury that sidelined him for many weeks.

Bangura has had to wait it out since Michael Carrick has since made Lukas Engel his first choice at left back. Bangura, who joined from Dutch team SC Cambuur in the summer, has made only one start in the Championship so far this year.

 

However, the 24-year-old was added back to the starting lineup for their exciting victory against Exeter City in the Carabao Cup last night. He performed admirably, contributing significantly to Boro’s opening two goals.

“It was difficult for him to join as he did—he’s from a new nation and club, and he hasn’t played much due to the early injury,” head coach Michael Carrick said after making seven changes from the team that fell to Stoke City 2-0. “Despite the widespread assumption that it is, it is difficult to fit right in. With a few adjustments in the roster, Alex performed admirably.

“It pleased me that I felt every youngster that entered did well. The more the game went on, the more dangerous we appeared to be because we appeared to be ourselves and you could see the things we were working on. I’m very happy about it.

Everyone will participate in some capacity during the season, as I usually say. There will be occasions when a team member is temporarily absent due to an unspecified reason. The fact that we may choose to make the adjustments is what makes it so beautiful. It would be simple to come over here and tell the lads, who have been playing frequently lately, to leave again. However, we changed things since we really believe in all the lads and we’ll make use of them all.”

The quarterfinal draw will take place live tonight at about 10:15 p.m. on Sky Sports and the EFL website, following Manchester United’s match versus Newcastle United. Quarterfinal matches are scheduled for the week starting on December 18.