A club with the resources and quality of Middlesbrough-relative of course to the league that they are in-would mean that seeing a number of players being loaned is to be expected. However, just how many of the squad are sent out will be of interest to fans, especially with the recent announcement of a rule change that will see Championship clubs be able to name nine substitutes, with five changes allowed during three intervals (excluding half-time).
There were times last season where high profile players missed out on the final 18-man cut, and so having two extra positions available to change things up will be a factor in Michael Carrick’s strategy this time around.
The Middlesbrough coaching staff will be analysing each position on the pitch in order to see where they can allow individuals to get regular playing time elsewhere. One position that seems to have been sorted already is the Goalkeeper area. Following the signings of Tom Glover, Seny Dieng and Jamie Jones, a complete overhaul has seen Zak Steffen return to parent club Manchester City, Liam Roberts go out on loan to Barnsley, Sol Brynn to Leyton Orient, and Zack Hemming to St Mirren.
These are the five players that could leave The Riverside on loan this coming season.
Sonny Finch
The 17-year-old did make the bench on a number of occasions last season, so what has changed? Well, Carrick brought him into first team training and the match day squads to reward his work ethic and talent, but he will benefit even more from going on loan-just as Josh Coburn did last season-and getting some first team action in the football league. He is a very sharp young forward and the opportunity to go to another club and make a real difference for them will give him confidence and be something that Middlesbrough can only benefit from. The only caveat with any loan for Finch, will be that he is still at an age where it has to be the right fit, because the last thing the club want for the teen, is for him to go to a club that may hamper his progression.
Hayden Coulson
Coulson has signed a new contract with Middlesbrough and will be observed closely during pre-season following his season with Aberdeen last year. There were mixed reviews from north of the border, so he may need a confidence boost before being asked to play first team football for Middlesbrough again. Ironically, the left sided full-back/wing-back fell out of favour at Aberdeen following the arrival of new manager and former Boro midfielder, Barry Robson. However, Jonathan Woodgate will have outlined his qualities to Carrick as he regularly started him during his time as boss, but if Ryan Giles returns to the club or they find an alternative, it is difficult to see Coulson getting much game time.
Tyrell Agyemang
As a player who can play across the back in a number of positions, Agyemang is a prospect who will hopefully develop and turn out to be a useful acquisition. He has a good pedigree, coming from Charlton Athletic’s academy originally and then playing 13 times for Manchester City’s Under-21’s team last season. It is a big step up from academy and Under-21 football to Championship, but as we saw with Hayden Hackney and a host of former Boro academy graduates, it can be done. With Anfernee Dijksteel and Tommy Smith at right-back and currently three very good centre-backs in Lenihan, Fry and McNair still at the club, he may struggle for games. A year with the Under-21’s or a season-long deal with a football league club would help him acclimatise in terms of the recovery and the strain of playing so many games in a full campaign at this level.
Matthew Hoppe
The American is one that the fans seemed really eager to see do well when he arrived last summer from RCD Mallorca. There was no shortage of effort and endeavour when called upon for Middlesbrough, but he almost seems to have been trying too hard when given a chance. For whatever reason, it did not quite happen for him at Hibernian on loan last season, either. One goal and one assist in ten games was not exactly what Boro would have hoped for. Boro will be looking for a striker if they can’t tempt Villa to part with Cameron Archer again, but Crooks, the arrival of Morgan Rogers and the return of Josh Coburn are all likely to be in front of Hoppe in the pecking order. As Boro fans can testify though, it can all change very quickly, just ask Chuba Akpom. The recruitment team clearly saw something in him, lets hope that he can turn a corner soon.
Daniel Nkrumah
Yes, another forward. In the case of Daniel Nkrumah, his arrival was quite unexpected, even for the Leyton Orient fans. Orient fans seemed shocked that their club had let a promising youngster go without having the chance to see him live up to his early potential. Although the fee was undisclosed, it could be, that given the club’s new recruitment model, they have monitored him for some time and did not want to wait until his fee rocketed. It could prove to be a stroke of genius. He has already bagged himself two goals against for the Under-21’s against Darlington in a 3-2 pre-season victory. A loan out could see the continuation of his impressive early start to his football career. He could become a very valuable asset. Goalscorers are like gold dust and Daniel looks like he knows how to find the back of the net. As with the other strikers on the list, hard to see how he gets a look in with the first team just yet.