After a dismal start to the season, Middlesbrough is once again a dominant force in the Championship.
As Boro lingered in the relegation zone, Michael Carrick’s team struggled with the fallout from last season’s heartbreaking play-off defeat and lost top scorer Chuba Akpom in their early games.
But the Teesside team’s rebirth has been sparked by a defiant home performance in a 2-1 victory over Southampton, propelling them back into the top-six race.
Following their 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Bradford City, victories over Watford, Cardiff City, and a 4-0 demolition of their neighbors Sunderland have cleared the air and served as a reminder to the rest of the division about the danger they still pose.
A summer of intriguing business in the wake of Akpom’s nature has naturally required some time for the new-look squad to harmonise and thrive in the second tier with some more of the tried and trusted members within the ranks having to step up the plate.
Balancing potential and experience, Boro possess a wide range of characters and talents at the Riverside Stadium. That being said, we take a look at four players who could be enjoying their swansong on Teesside as their contracts look to come to an end next summer.
Paddy McNair
The Manchester United academy graduate stepped up to the plate when called upon for the Red Devils, playing 24 Premier League matches as a youngster before moving to Sunderland in 2016.
The Northern Ireland captain played another 25 times on Wearside in the top two divisions before his inevitable move to Middlesbrough, where he has become a mainstay in the eleven.
Across six seasons, McNair has played almost 200 league matches for the club in numerous play-off charges to little avail, proving to be a dependable and versatile leader across the defensive and midfield areas.
Jonny Howson
Another EFL veteran, Howson arrived on Teesside with a wealth of experience at both Premier League and Championship level, playing more than 170 times for both Leeds United and Norwich City.
The dependable, utility asset immediately came into the fold when he arrived in 2017, playing 43 times in the second tier as Boro recorded a fifth-place finish.
The now 35-year-old is into his seventh season at the Riverside Stadium where he continues to be a regular feature, captaining his side from the base of Carrick’s midfield.
Jamie Jones
Experienced goalkeeper Jones arrived this summer on a one-year deal from Wigan Athletic, completing the goalkeeping department alongside new recruit Tom Glover.
The 34-year-old, who has played for the likes of Leyton Orient, Preston and Stevenage, featured 17 times in the Latics’ relegation campaign last term but returns for a second chance in the second tier and has since featured in several EFL Cup matchday squads in Michael Carrick’s side.
Liam Roberts
Another goalkeeper, Roberts featured four times in the Championship last season after arriving from Northampton Town.
The former Walsall shot-stopper has moved to Barnsley on a season-long loan where he has subsequently taken the number one shirt with the Tykes battling it out at the top of League One.
An impressive display in the third tier could earn the 28-year-old a new contract on Teesside but if he continues to impress, he will not be short of contract offers regardless next summer.
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