Recent comments from winger Sammy Silvera show why Middlesbrough were right to loan him to Portsmouth this season.
Middlesbrough saw their 2023/24 Championship season hampered by a lot of players leaving the club in the 2023 summer transfer window.
The likes of Chuba Akpom, Ryan Giles, and Cameron Archer all left Teesside after playing key roles in their promotion push, which ended in play-off semi-final defeat to Coventry City.
So far in the 2024 window, Michael Carrick has been able to keep hold of his key stars, like Emmanuel Latte Lath and Hayden Hackney.
However, several players have still left the Riverside already this summer. Paddy McNair and Liam Roberts both departed after their contracts expired.
Left-back Hayden Coulson then joined Blackpool on a permanent basis after spending 2023/24 on loan with the League One outfit.
Boro’s most recent departure, meanwhile, saw winger Sammy Silvera join newly-promoted Portsmouth on loan for the 2024/25 campaign.
Sammy Silvera comments on Portsmouth loan are good for Middlesbrough
Silvera made 37 appearances for Middlesbrough in the Championship last season and 42 in all competitions.
As a result, some Boro fans may have questioned why the Teessiders decided to sanction a loan.
However, it was previously reported that the North East outfit decided to loan out Silvera to hand him some more Championship experience.
Crucially, it is understood that Middlesbrough still see the 23-year-old as a player they want to keep hold of, and are keen to assess him once he returns to the Riverside.
Now, comments from the player himself highlight why the Reds were wise to loan the Australian to Portsmouth.
Speaking recently, as per Teesside Live, Silvera spoke of how his conversations with Portsmouth’s manager have centred around him improving as an individual.
He said: “The chats with the manager have been brief so far but they centred around me as an individual improving. I’m hoping I can add more goals and assists to my game and help players like [Kusini] Yengi score more goals.
“I feel like this is a place where I can do that under them. That’s very important for me.”
Given Boro still want to use Silvera in 2025/26, it is important Portsmouth improve him as a player, with those comments suggesting that is what will happen.
Delano Burgzorg must step up in Silvera absence
For the player himself, Silvera’s loan move to Portsmouth looks to be a wise decision, as he will get the attention he needs to improve as a player.
However, his departure does leave Boro somewhat short of bodies on the left flank.
Middlesbrough opted not to take up an option to make Sam Greenwood’s loan a permanent one last term.
And with Silvera now gone, Alex Gilbert – another player who could do with more experience – was the club’s only natural left-winger.
Carrick has now signed Delano Burgzorg from Mainz 05 and while he played primarily used as a striker last season, he will need to step up on the flanks.
Burgozrg scored seven in 33 games for a poor Huddersfield Town team but was often deployed as a centre-forward.
The Dutchman’s natural position is left-wing and unless the Reds sign another wide-man this summer, Boro will have to rely heavily on Burgzorg to fill the void left by Silvera.