Middlesbrough should be able to avoid a repeat of their 2023/24 struggles following a recent pre-season boost.
Middlesbrough have been stuck in the Championship for seven years now, last being relegated in 2017.
The North East outfit have come close to securing promotion in recent years but have never been able to get over the line.
Expectations were high for the Teessiders heading in 2023/24 after they managed to reach the play-off semi-finals the campaign prior.
However, Michael Carrick was unable to guide the club into the top six, with Boro instead finishing eighth and four points off the playoffs.
Preparation for the 2024/25 campaign is now underway, with Middlesbrough’s Championship fixture list released last month.
Carrick has also welcomed his players back for pre-season, with their first friendly set to take place on July 20th versus Bolton Wanderers.
Aidan Morris left out of USA Olympics squad
Now, Middlesbrough have been handed a big boost during their pre-season campaign.
With midfield a weak area for the club last term, Boro opted to sign Aidan Morris from MLS outfit Columbus Crew.
The 22-year-old linked up with the Teessiders last week and has travlled to Portgual for their training camp.
As per Teesside Live, Boro have been handed a boost on the Morris front as the midfielder has been left out of USA’s 18-man squad for the upcoming Olympic games.
Morris was part of the USA Under-23s squad for a final training camp before the Olympics ahead of his move to Middlesbrough being finalised.
However, he will now play no role for his country at this summer’s Olympics. The Paris games take place between July 24th and August 10th.
As a result, with Boro’s Championship season kicking off on August 10th, Morris would have missed most of pre-season and the start of the normal campaign.
Aidan Morris update is big boost for Middlesbrough
The latest update surrouding Morris should mean Middlesbrough can avoid a repeat of their 2023/24 campaign.
As already mentioned, Boro failed to make it into the playoffs last term, missing out by just four points.
Part of the reason the Reds missed out on the top six was down to their awful start, failing to win their opening five games.
Middlesbrough lost a lot of key players last summer and the majoirty of the replacments brought in were not signed until late in the window.
Kieran Scott and Steve Gibson acted fast this summer to avoid a repeat of that issue, with Morris, Luke Ayling, Delano Burgzorg and Harley Hunt already signed.
Had Morris been selected for the Olympics, that would have negated the impact of Boro’s early transfer business.
But with the player no longer in the running to travel to Paris, Middlesbrough have a full pre-season to embed Morris into the team, meaning he should be raring to go come August 10th.
This, on paper, will give Carrick and co. a much better chance of starting 2024/25 on a positive note and, in turn, boost their promotion chances.