One Middlesbrough player is struggling to break into the starting line-up under Michael Carrick.
Boro completed nine signings during the 2024 summer transfer window.
Michael Carrick now has quality depth in every area of the pitch, which has proven to be a blessing and a curse in some instances.
Middlesbrough have been plagued with injury issues once again this season, with up to 10 players out for some matches this term.
However, their summer transfer business has largely been able to negate those problems, barring at centre-back when Matt Clarke was the only fit senior option until George Edmundson was signed on deadline day.
But while the strength in depth is largely a good thing, it does mean a couple of Boro players are struggling to earn regular playing time.
One such star who is failing to break into the team at the Riverside Stadium is Micah Hamilton.
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Micah Hamilton out of favour at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough signed Hamilton from Manchester City for £3.5m, including several performance-based add-ons.
With Marcus Forss out injured following a long-term problem picked up in 2023/24, it looked as though Hamilton would be a regular starter as soon as he moved to Teesside.
Carrick gave a positive verdict of Hamilton last week but the 20-year-old is still yet to start a league game this season.
The former Man City starlet made his Boro debut just 24 hours after signing, coming off the bench for 22 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Derby County.
However, the youngster has still only notched 44 minutes of league action across four matches so far this term.
This comes despite Isaiah Jones’ form taking a nosedive in the last couple of weeks and Boro needing to make a change on the right.
Had Jones’ form declined in early August, there would have been a clear pathway for Hamilton to break into the eleven.
However, now Forss is on his way back and Ben Doak made his Middlesbrough debut last week, Hamilton looks to be Boro’s fourth-choice right-winger at present.
How Micah Hamilton can get more game time at Middlesbrough
Carrick explained Hamilton’s lack of Middlesbrough game time recently, suggesting he was being cautious with the Englishman due to his lack of experience.
Those comments fell on deaf ears somewhat, however, as 18-year-old Doak has already been afforded half of Hamilton’s game time in just one substitute appearance after joining on August 30th.
So, with three players seemingly ahead of Hamilton on the right flank, it may be time for Carrick to start trying to fit the City gem into the team another way.
Hamilton, who is earning £7,500-a-week at Middlesbrough, is a versatile option who can play all across the front line. However, owing to Boro’s quality depth in their attack, he is expected to struggle to compete in other areas as well.
Tommy Conway, Finn Azaz and Alex Gilbert are all competing to start as the North East outfit’s number 10.
On the left, Azaz, Riley McGree and Delano Burgzorg are all capable, more experienced options than Hamilton.
In truth, it has become clear that Hamilton is drifting further away from the eleven with each passing week but his ability to play in multiple positions could be the player’s saving grace this season.