The Middlesbrough manager has been full of praise for Middlesbrough’s latest summer signing.
Boro finished eighth in the 2023/24 Championship table, four points outside of the top six.
Part of the reason the Teessiders struggled at times during the previous campaign was down to their new signings.
Kieran Scott made 14 signings for Middlesbrough in 2023/24, the majority of which arrived last summer.
This forced Michael Carrick to try and embed a plethora of new first-team players into the Middlesbrough team at the same time.
Clubs often struggle with this issue at the start of a new season and Boro were no exception, failing to win their opening five league games last term.
Thankfully, those in a position of power at the Riverside have learned from their mistakes in the current window, with Middlesbrough completing three first-team transfers in 2024 so far.
Luke Ayling returned to the club on a free transfer after a successful loan spell from Leeds United.
Delano Burgzorg then joined from German outfit Mainz 05 before Aidan Morris was signed from Columbus Crew for £3.18m.
Michael Carrick gives verdict on Aidan Morris
Middlesbrough were given a glimpse of what Morris can do when training footage of the midfielder emerged earlier this month.
The USA international made his Boro debut in a 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, July 20th.
He then came off the bench for the final 30 minutes of Boro’s game with Gateshead. Morris earned praise from a pundit for his cameo in said tie.
The 22-year-old was handed his first start for his new club in a 0-0 draw with Harrogate Town on Wednesday.
Now, Carrick has shared his thoughts on Middlesbrough’s latest senior signing, claiming he is a ‘natural fit’, as per the Northern Echo.
He said: “It’s why we bought him. We obviously like him a lot. We’ve watched him for a while, and we like his style and the way he plays the game. We feel that it suits us, and that the way we play suits him.
“We’ll help him settle in – we’re doing that now – and look after him.
“But, for sure, we’re really happy with the way he’s settled in so far, and you can already see from the way he plays that he’s a natural fit.”
How will Middlesbrough use Aidan Morris
Middlesbrough faced Doncaster Rovers in a pre-season friendly this past Saturday.
Carrick put out a very strong eleven that seemed to hint at what his selection will be for Boro’s Championship opener versus Swansea City on August 10th.
Morris was not included in that eleven, with Hayden Hackney and Jonny Howson instead the starting midfield pair.
Given Morris has never played in England before, it is easy to see why Carrick may wish to slowly embed him into the team.
Howson and Hackney were the club’s best midfield duo when both were fit last term, and starting them early in 2024/25 will give Middlesbrough the best chance of picking up positive results in their opening fixtures.
However, with Howson now 36 years of age and in the final year of his Boro contract, he will need replacing soon.
Morris has a similar profile to the Middlesbrough captain and Carrick should look to start interchanging the duo during the course of the new season.