A former Middlesbrough player has urged current Boro boss Michael Carrick to loan out one player this summer.
Middlesbrough are set to have a new-look first-team squad come the start of the 2024/25 Championship season.
Michael Carrick and his players welcome Swansea City to the Riverside Stadium on the opening day of the new Championship campaign on Saturday, August 10th.
Before that, Middlesbrough have pre-season fixtures against the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Harrogate Town.
The Teessiders have been active on the transfer front so far this summer, with four new faces, including one academy starlet, already through the door.
However, there have also been a few exits from the club, including Sammy Silvera, Hayden Coulson and Paddy McNair.
Silvera joined Portsmouth on loan for the 2024/25 season and another Boro player has now been backed to leave the club on a temporary basis.
Michael Carrick urged to consider Josh Coburn loan
The player in question is 21-year-old striker Josh Coburn, who has made 52 senior appearances for Middlesbrough.
Coburn spent 2023/24 as the backup to Emmanuel Latte Lath, scoring five in 21 league outings.
The forward missed part of the campaign due to injury but even when fit, struggled for regular minutes.
Now, former Middlesbrough player Danny Mills has urged Carrick to consider loaning Coburn out if he is not going to be a regular starter in 2024/25.
He said: “There is nothing like the experience of playing week in, week out, so it’s up to Carrick as to whether he feels Coburn is a player who can make the first XI week in week out.
“If not, then there is no harm to be loaned out to get game experience.”
Why Middlesbrough should not loan Josh Coburn
In theory, loaning out a 21-year-old so he can gain more first-team experience does make sense.
However, the state of Middlesbrough’s squad at present means Boro need to keep hold of Coburn.
If Coburn were to leave, Boro would have no natural backup to Latte Lath up front.
New signing Delano Burgzorg can play through the middle, but he will likely be needed on the left-wing given the club’s lack of options in that area.
A new striker remains a priority for Middlesbrough in the current window but unless one is signed before the start of the season, Coburn should be kept on Teesside.