A talkSPORT pundit has shared his thoughts on Middlesbrough summer signing Aidan Morris after the club’s meeting with Gateshead.
Middlesbrough have made several signings in the 2024 summer window so far, with three new first-team players brought to the Riverside Stadium.
After shinning on loan from Leeds United in the second half 2023/24, Luke Ayling has returned to Boro on a free transfer.
Versatile forward Delano Burgzorg has made the move to Teesside as well. Burgzorg scored his first-ever Middlesbrough goal last weekend.
The final senior player Michael Carrick has signed this summer is Aidan Morris, who joined from MLS outfit Columbus Crew.
Middlesbrough were given glimpse of what Morris can do after social media footage of the player training emerged earlier this month.
TalkSPORT pundit gives Aidan Morris assessment after Middlesbrough vs Gateshead
Morris made his Boro debut in a 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, July 20th.
The USA international then came off the bench for the final 30 minutes as Middlesbrough beat Gateshead 1-0 on Wednesday.
After the match, talkSPORT pundit Phil Spencer took to X/Twitter to share his thoughts on Morris’ display, labelling him ‘a breath of fresh air’.
He wrote: “First glimpse of Aidan Morris too and what a breath of fresh air.
“So comfortable on the ball, a nice change of pace and someone who instinctively presses hard and plays on the front foot.
“Only seen 30 mins of him but looks like a proper find already.”
How will Aidan Morris fit into the Middlesbrough squad
Carrick has a big decision to make when it comes to how Morris will be used next season.
Jonny Howson and Hayden Hackney were Middlesbrough’s best central midfield pairing in the previous campaign.
But with Howson now 36 and unlikely to be able to complete a full 46-game campaign, the Boro captain will need replacing soon.
Morris has no experience in Europe so may need time to adjust to the rough-and-tumble nature of English football.
But as he is a very similar player to Howson in terms of his passing ability and work rate, the American should be brought into the team ahead of the former Norwich City man, rather than in place of Hackney.