Four England players have revealed the key role a former Middlesbrough star has played in the country’s Euro 2024 success.
Middlesbrough have their sites firmly fixed on the forthcoming Championship campaign.
Michael Carrick is aiming to win promotion to the Premier League at the third time of asking with the Teessiders.
While pre-season is just getting underway for most clubs in the second tier, the nation’s attention remains on Euro 2024.
England reached the final of the European Championships in 2021 before losing out to Italy.
The Three Lions have not exactly impressed on the field so far, with former Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate coming in for heavy criticism.
However, England are now in the semi-finals of the competition for only the third time in their history.
They will face the Netherlands on July 10th, battling it out for a meeting with Spain in the competition’s showpiece on July 14th.
Bellingham, Shaw, Foden and Alexander-Arnold praise Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Southgate is not the only former Middlesbrough man looking to guide England to Euro 2024 glory, though.
Ex-striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been part of Southgate’s England coaching staff since March 2023, with the pair reuniting after their playing days together at the Riverside.
Now, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Luke Shaw, and Trent Alexander Arnold have all praised the impact Hasselbaink has had with England this summer, including in the penalty shootout versus Switzerland, as per Teesside Live.
Bellingham said: “I was really confident in my preparation, confident in the things I talked through with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, he’s stepped up for us massively.”
Foden said: “Jimmy’s been working hard with us to do penalties after training in case it goes to a shoot-out. They were just full of confidence and slotted them away. Jimmy’s got a lot of experience in the game, he knows his stuff. “
Shaw said: “He’s been really good, really positive. He’s been doing stuff in training with the strikers, taking some of the training.”
Trent said: “He works a lot with the attacking players, more than anyone, helps us with the penalties and things so he is a great addition to the backroom staff.”
Middlesbrough need another striker
While Hasselbaink’s playing days are well behind him, Carrick would no doubt love to sign a player of his quality this summer.
A new striker remains a priority for Middlesbrough in the current window despite the success of Emmanuel Latte Lath in 2023/24.
The Ivorian scored 16 goals in 30 Championship games but Boro have very little quality behind him.
Josh Coburn is the only natural backup option at present and though he has shown patches of quality, he is not at the level required for a side with promotion aspirations.
Middlesbrough are not currently being linked with any specific strikers, but there is still plenty of time between now and deadline day next month.