One Middlesbrough star stood out amongst the crowd during their opening weekend win.
Boro have had one of their better summer transfer windows for some time under Steve Gibson.
Middlesbrough have previously signed too many new players and struggled to embed them into the first-team squad.
We saw this in the 2023/24 season when 14 signings were made and Michael Carrick failed to guide his team to a single victory in their opening five outings of the Championship campaign.
The Boro chiefs have been much more methodical in their approach to the current window, however.
Luke Ayling returned to the Riverside after a successful loan spell so needed little time to get up to speed.
Elsewhere, Aidan Morris and Delano Burgzorg were both signed before pre-season had even begun, giving them plenty of opportunity to settle into life on Teesside.
Middlesbrough signed Micah Hamilton from Manchester City last weekend and he was on the bench against the Swans.
Aidan Morris hailed after Middlesbrough debut vs Swansea City
As for the remainder of Boro’s summer signings, Ayling maintained his starting berth at right-back from last season.
Burgzorg also came on as a substitute and probably should have scored his first competitive Middlesbrough goal if Isaiah Jones squared the ball to him late on instead of shooting himself.
And with Jonny Howson injured against SC Heerenveen, Morris was handed his first start for Boro alongside Hayden Hackney in the centre of midfield.
Given his lack of experience outside the MLS, Carrick probably would have preferred to ease Morris into the eleven but injury issues saw him thrown straight in at the deep end.
However, the USA international, for the most part, impressed on his Boro debut and has since earned high praise from EFL Pundit Sam Parikn on the Championship Check-In podcast.
He said: “Aidan Morris who, from what I’ve seen, looks an incredible find for Middlesbrough.
“He did give one ball away which was nearly turned in by Cullen. But Morris, in all the highlights I’ve seen looks like a standout for Boro.”
Can Aidan Morris replace Jonny Howson at Middlesbrough
Morris will need to continue improving for Middlesbrough, especially given Jonny Howson’s contract situation.
The Boro captain is 36 years of age and in the final 12 months of his contract with the North East outfit.
As a result, it is expected that 2024/25 will be Howson’s last in a Middlesbrough shirt, leaving a big hole in Carrick’s midfield.
Howson has been a standout performer for the club since his arrival from Norwich City in 2017 and replacing him will be a tough task.
Morris has a lot of similar traits to the skipper when it comes to dictating play and starting attacks with his clever through balls.
However, the American is somewhat lacking in the defensive side of his game, as we saw against Swansea when he nearly gave away a goal late in the first half.
But should Morris improve that area of his game, he will be the ideal replacement for Howson in 2025/26.