Middlesbrough lost 2-1 away at Preston North End in the week, and whilst it was a disappointing result, there were a few positives from the game.
One positive was that Middlesbrough largely dominated the game.
They paid the price after failing to take their chances and being sloppy in defence, but if Michael Carrick can add that final quality to his side and eradicate the mistakes at the back, he’ll have a very good team on his hands.
And it’s a team with a lot of quality individuals in it, with one being Finn Azaz.
The midfielder joined on a permanent deal from Aston Villa last month and netted his first goal for the club at Deepdale, curling one into the top corner from range.
In five Championship appearances for Boro, the 23-year-old has one goal and one assist, having scored seven and assisted five for Plymouth Argyle in the first half of the season.
Phil Spencer tips Finn Azaz to become a ‘big player’ for Middlesbrough
Azaz was the big signing for Middlesbrough last month.
Boro paid a reported fee of £2.5million for the midfielder after his impressive season-and-a-half on loan at Plymouth Argyle, and we’re definitely seeing glimpses of a top player in the making.
He’s a very well-rounded midfielder who can certainly compliment the likes of Jonny Howson and Hayden Hackney around him, with goals like the one he scored at Preston, and an overall more attacking side to his game.
After that, talkSPORT reporter and Middlesbrough fan Phil Spencer has had his say on Azaz, tipping him to become a ‘big player’ for Middlesbrough later down the line.
Building blocks in place for Middlesbrough
With Azaz coming in, and a horde of new players last summer, there looks to be some solid foundations in place at Middlesbrough.
Rav van den Berg at the back, then Azaz and Hackney in the Middlesbrough make up a good spine, but Carrick is still in need of a striker, and he also needs to settle on a goalkeeper.
But Azaz is certainly looking like a very good signing and like Spencer says, at 23 years old, Azaz could go on to become a very impressive and valuable asset for Boro in the coming years.
He’s got all the hallmarks of a top midfielder; he can score and create goals, and he’s not afraid to put in the dirty work in the middle of the pitch either.
If Carrick can find a way of getting him to be as prolific as he was at Plymouth, then he’ll become a real force for Middlesbrough who remain in top six contention, albeit with a seven point gap to 6th.
Up next for Middlesbrough is a trip to league leaders Leicester City tomorrow afternoon.