Anfernee Dijksteel stole the show against Leeds but another Middlesbrough star impressed as well.
Since Michael Carrick arrived at the Riverside Stadium, Anfernee Dijksteel has struggled for regular game time.
The right-back made just 20 Championship appearances in 2023/24, failing to complete 90 minutes during the second half of the season.
In turn, it did not come as too much of a surprise when it was reported in May that Middlesbrough have made Dijksteel available for sale this summer.
The 27-year-old was third-choice right-back behind Luke Ayling and Tommy Smith and looked set for a future away from the North East.
However, after Middlesbrough beat Leeds 3-0, the defender should have played his way back into Carrick’s thoughts.
The former Charlton Athletic star was Man of the Match on Wednesday after scoring the opener and continued to cause issues down the right-hand side.
Speaking after the victory over Leeds, Carrick labelled Dijksteel and Isaiah Jones as ‘really dangerous’.
Another Middlesbrough star impressed alongside Anfernee Dijksteel vs Leeds
However, Dijksteel and Jones were not the only players to catch the eye during Boro’s latest League Cup outing.
Matt Clarke was once again a rock at the back, while summer addition Aidan Morris continues to prove why Carrick signed him.
Elsewhere, another new signing, Delano Burgzorg, excelled in the victory over Daniel Farke’s men.
The Dutchman was afforded his first competitive start in a Boro shirt and was excellent, pressing well and continuously threatening on the counterattack.
Burgzorg scored his first goal for the Teessiders in the 60th minute with a composed strike that curled past Karl Darlow.
Now, taking to X/Twiter, journalist Scott Wilson has dubbed the winger ‘really impressive’.
He said: “Delano Burgzorg got the second, he was really impressive on what was his first competitive start in a Boro shirt.
“Set free by a lovely through ball from Josh Coburn and then he found the corner [of the net].”
Will Delano Burgzorg start for Middlesbrough vs Derby County
Middlesbrough began their Championship campaign with a 1-0 win over Swansea City on Saturday.
After falling out of favour somewhat in 2023/24, Riley McGree has regained his starting berth on the left wing and was in from the off against the Welsh outfit.
However, while McGree did not play terribly against Swansea, he failed to provide much of an attacking threat.
Burgzorg, on the other hand, has shown in his brief substitute cameo at the weekend and against Leeds that he can cause opposition defences a lot of problems.
His work rate, pace, and ability to run at players makes him a nightmare to deal with and this could be an especially effective tool against a defensively weak Derby County side on August 17th.
Burgzorg’s decision-making has been questionable at times and he is not as strong as McGree defensively.
But Carrick should give him another chance to impress against Paul Warne’s men this weekend.