Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has shown his support for new arrival Morgan Rogers as he nears his final decision on who should lead the line this Saturday.
With no new signings on the horizon before the weekend, it looks likely that the former Man City man will play the pivotal striker position for the Boro.
He played in the final friendly against Auxerre and got on the score sheet, something that will have pleased his boss. The goal-albeit a tap-in-is exactly the kind of goal that he will look to score more often.
Showing that predatory instinct is something that will come with time, as the alluded to in an interview in the Northern Echo. The Boro supremo said, “He’s (Rogers) a good finisher.
“Technically, he’s a really good finisher, it’s just that number nines, strikers who live and make their living in and around the box, thrive off chances. It’s a slightly different mentality to have, but he has an awful lot more to his game than just that.”
Rogers’ apparent confidence and excitement during the pre-season games may have influenced the decision of Carrick to blood him in the opener against Millwall. In an earlier interview on the club’s website, Rogers had spoke about how it was a ‘joy’ to play with some of the Boro players and that he was ‘loving it’ despite not playing there ‘a whole lot’.
The club do have alternatives in the shape of Matthew Hoppe, Josh Coburn and also new arrival Alex Gilbert who can also play the role. However, it appears that Rogers’ general play and movement has impressed Carrick enough to be trusted with the starting berth up top. The importance of fitting in with his side’s style and ethos has played its part.
“It’s about getting the balance really of having that killer instinct when he’s in and around the box and playing like he normally does when he’s outside the box,” Explained Carrick.
“It’s not always easy to get that, and he’s got so much more to his game. He’s not solely a box striker – we’ll use him as we feel we can get the best out of him.”
Rogers arrived as a left-sided attacker, but the 21-year-old’s attributes immediately pressed Carrick into utilising him in a slightly different way.
It is not the first time that Carrick has assessed the qualities of a player and then manoeuvred them into a new position. He has done so to wonderful effect with Chuba Akpom, who scored 29 goals last season. He also re-positioned Marcus Forss to the right hand side and Matt Crooks temporarily into a striker role.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the new season and will hope that Middlesbrough’s poor opening day record is improved as they welcome Millwall to The Riverside.