Wolves may be prepared to loan defender Dexter Lembikisa to another Championship side during the current transfer window after his impressive spell with Rotherham United.
The right-back has excelled during his time with the Millers, missing just one league game, and according to a report on the TEAMtalk website, Wolves are now weighing up whether to recall him and allow him to play at a club competing for places further up in the division. It is not unheard of for this to happen mid-way through a season. The same actually happened with former Villa midfielder, Aaron Ramsey last season, who swapped Norwich for Teesside in January.
Boro’s history of Wolves full-backs
The 20-year-old full-back is a product of Wolves’ academy and played in the Premier League 2 division before earning himself a handful of senior appearances for the midland club. He has also been capped by the Jamaica national side and has amassed 10 caps for the Reggae Boyz.
It would not be the first time Boro have brokered a loan deal for a player from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ryan Giles enjoyed a successful season-long term with Boro last season before securing a Premier League move with Luton Town in the summer. Wolves know that Michael Carrick nurtures young talent well and likes to play exciting, attacking football and so that could work in Boro’s favour.
Middlesbrough could be interested in loaning Lembikisa after seeing his talent and application first hand during their 1-0 defeat to Rotherham in December. He operated well down the right flank in that encounter and despite Rotherham’s lowly position, has shown a confidence and maturity that has impressed a number of Championship outfits. Norwich, Blackburn, West Brom and Ipswich make up the quintet of interested parties.
No right-back cover
Michael Carrick now has no specialist right-back to call upon after Anfernee Dijksteel joined Tommy Smith on the treatment table. Boro’s extensive injury list shows no real sign of relenting and Rav van den Berg was once again asked to play out of position, filling in at right-back against Coventry. The Boro boss has had to play a number of square pegs in round holes in the past few weeks and will be desperate to inject some energy into his ailing squad, whilst adding cover for those who are still absent through injury or international duty.
Middlesbrough are trying to navigate two cup competitions whilst also attempting to stay abreast of the group of teams who harbour ambitions of reaching the play-offs in an ultra-competitive Championship division. They are still just about in touch with the pack, but a crushing defeat to Coventry at home was a blow that they could have done without as they mentally prepare themselves for the visit of Premier League opposition in the next two games.
Carrick’s cup headache
First up, Boro entertain Aston Villa at the Riverside in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, followed shortly after by a Tuesday night Carabao Cup semi-final first leg versus Chelsea. It will be fascinating to see what Carrick has to work with in terms of personnel, given that the game against Coventry saw the Teessider’s line up with five players 22 or under on the substitutes bench. The rest of the bench was made up of two senior players and a goalkeeper who is yet to make a full appearance for the club.
Their predicament has not been helped by the fact that they have three players away representing teams in the AFCON Cup and The Asian Cup. Carrick will hope to have some key figures back in the coming weeks, but the Villa match could come too soon.