Lamine Yamal has dominated at Euro 2024 with Spain this summer and Middlesbrough can repeat his success with a starlet of their own.
Middlesbrough are preparing for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign, which begins on August 10th versus Swansea City.
Boro have been active on the transfer front this summer as Michael Carrick eyes promotion from the Championship.
However, the Boro boss should look to take inspiration from a player excelling at Euro 2024 in a bid to return Middlesbrough to the Premier League.
The player in question is Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who has been the player of the tournament so far.
Spain faced France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 on July 9th, coming away with a 2-1 win to book their spot in the final later this week.
Yamal was the best player on the pitch by some distance and after netting the equaliser for Spain, became the youngest player in history to score at a European Championship or World Cup (16 years and 362 days).
The teenager is also one of only two players across the last two Euros/World Cup tournaments with 15+ chances created, 15+ shots and 15+ dribbles – the other being Lionel Messi in 2022.
Middlesbrough can emulate Lamine Yamal success with Law McCabe
In total, Yamal has scored one and assisted three en route to the Euro 2024 final, putting in displays well beyond his years.
Managers are often wary of throwing young stars in at the deep end but the Spaniard is a great example of the huge rewards a team can reap if the gamble pays off.
Now, Middlesbrough should look to take inspiration from Yamal and hand Law McCabe more senior minutes in 2023/24.
McCabe is 18 years of age and made his senior debut for Boro in 2023/24, coming off the bench for two minutes versus Preston North End.
The teenager was handed his first start on the final day versus Watford, playing 72 minutes of a 3-1 win.
After that match, Carrick was full of praise for the young attacking midfielder, as per Teesside Live.
He said: “We’ve been trying to manage him right in terms of his training time and also game time. We felt today was the right time for him and he proved that right with how he coped with it.
“He had so much composure and his natural talent was on show. There will be so much more to come from him once he gets a few more games under his belt.”
McCabe should be given more minutes in 2024/25
While Carrick was quick to praise McCabe in May, he is not expected to be a regular starter for Boro in the coming campaign.
Hayden Hackney and Jonny Howson will likely be Middlesbrough’s midfield duo versus Swansea, with new signing Aidan Morris expected to see plenty of action once he is settled.
However, McCabe is a serious talent and would no doubt improve even further if given a regular spot in the Boro XI.
With Middlesbrough eyeing promotion in 2024/25, Carrick is unlikely to want to take too many risks with his team selection.
But Yamal’s displays at Euo 2024 should show the Middlesbrough boss that putting faith in McCabe could greatly benefit the club.