Michael Carrick has handed chances to several Middlesbrough academy players this summer.
Boro have always had a decent academy set-up despite the club never really being one of the top teams in England.
Some of Middlesbrough’s best academy graduates include the likes of Stewart Downing and current Boro centre-back, Dael Fry.
Since Michael Carrick arrived at the Riverside, he has handed a number of young players a chance in Middlesbrough’s first-team squad.
The most notable of which is Hayden Hackney who, before his injury, was one of the Teessiders’ best players in 2023/24.
Hackney scored the winner for Boro against Chelsea in the League Cup final and was dominating in the Championship.
Toward the back end of the previous campaign, Carrick also gave Law McCabe his first senior start for the North East side.
In pre-season, meanwhile, a few more Middlesbrough academy stars have been impressing for the senior team.
Mark Tinkler gives verdict on Middlesbrough academy star
McCabe has continued to impress for Middlesbrough during their 2024 pre-season schedule so far.
Another academy starlet, Sonny Finch, has also shone under Carrick in the last month or so.
Finch is a natural centre-forward but Marcus Forss’ injury has led to Carrick deploying the 18-year-old on the right wing.
The teenagers has grasped this opportunity with both hands, scoring a few goals for the club as he aims to stake a claim for a regular starting berth in 2024/25.
Now, Boro’s U21 manager, Mark Tinkler, has given his verdict on another Middlesbrough starlet, George McCormick, as per Middlesbrough’s official website.
He said: “[I’ve] known George for quite a few years now and he’s somebody who does everything right in terms of his professionalism and how he goes about his work, and how helps people.
“He’s somebody when you come off the training field he’s the one who’s collecting all the balls in, the cones and moving goals around.
“He’s just a terrific young man, the likes of them sort of players you want to see do well.
“George has had his opportunity in the first team, and he’s taken it. I was speaking to the staff upstairs, he’s doing pretty well, which is great for George.”
Can George McCormick earn starting place for Middlesbrough
McCormick has been with Boro’s academy since U9 level and made 12 appearances for the U21s last season.
The 19-year-old is a natural centre-back but he can also operate on the left of a back four.
This is where Carrick has been using him in pre-season following an injury to Alex Bangura.
McCormick has excelled in this role and put on a particularly solid display in the win over Gateshead last month.
The teenager linked up well with fellow youngster Finch to help create a goal and also made several key blocks to ensure Boro kept a clean sheet.
With Bangura sidelined, Middlesbrough currently have just one fit senior left-back going into the 2024/25 Championship season.
Ryan Giles was linked to Middlesbrough earlier in the transfer window but a move for the Hull City star now seems unlikely.
As a result, McCormick could well be given his senior Boro debut early in the coming season.