Middlesbrough prepare to play host to Swansea City this weekend at the Riverside Stadium and they can’t afford to drop points if they are to realise their top-six hopes.
Many felt Boro were out of the playoff mix but after a positive run of results, and sixth-placed Norwich City suffering defeat to Leicester, they are still in contention.
Indeed, with a six-point gap to surmount, Michael Carrick‘s side can’t afford to slip up in any of the remaining six games, particularly at home.
So when they welcome 15th-placed Swansea City – who have won one their last five games – on Saturday, they must take maximum points.
Boro have lacked real quality in the forward line for much of the campaign, so Carrick should consider unleashing his ‘excellent’ wildcard against the visiting Swans.
Matthew Hoppe deserves start v Swansea City
Middlesbrough outlaid around £2.5m for Matthew Hoppe’s signature in the summer of 2022 and since arriving from RCD Mallorca, he’s made just six appearances for the first team.
The 2001-born forward was shipped out on loan to Hibernian in Janaury 2023 but his spell in the Scottish Premiership wasn’t exactly inspiring, netting once in nine appearances for the club.
Hoppe went out on loan again at the beginning of the season, this time to MLS outfit San Jose, where he found the net twice in eight appearances.
He’s been back at Boro since December, though, hasn’t featured at all, with Carrick admitting his return was ‘awkward timing’.
“It’s awkward timing for him because there is nothing Matthew can do until January. He is here and back training with us, staying fit. We’ll then have to see what’s next for him,” the Boro boss said.
With a number of injuries to the first team, Hoppe deserves to start against Swansea City and he’ll certainly be eager to impress his manager in a bid to kickstart his career on Teeside.
His record with the under-21s is impressive, scoring five goals in as many outings, so he’s clearly got the talent.
Middlesbrough must end the season strongly
Boro must end the season well in order to give themselves the best chance of finishing inside the play-off positions.
Maximum points from the final six games would move them to 76 points, which would surely be enough to finish inside the top six.
Last season, Sunderland placed sixth with 69 points, though, that likely won’t be enough this term with Norwich already on 64.
A telling few weeks await the Riverside outfit and perhaps even more so for Hoppe, who could yet play an important role in the run-in.