Competition can strengthen Boro

HOT competition for places will play a key role in Boro’s promotion prospects.

The battle for first-team spots is already evident. Patrick Bamford, for example, needed those two goals at Aston Villa to promote his chances of winning a starting place.

Now Martin Braithwaite is on the verge of a return to action against Norwich City on Tuesday, while Adama Traore has completed his three-match suspension.

Once Rudy Gestede has recovered from his dead leg, manager Garry Monk will be in the unenviable position of being able to select three completely different threeman attacking formations.

Any one of those nine attackers is perfectly suited to life in the Championship, and capable of scoring goals at this level.

Last season Boro netted three times in a league game on just one occasion – when they beat Swansea City 3-0 at the Riverside.

This season, albeit in a lower division, Boro notched their second three-goal tally shortly following the beginning of September.

And it’s no surprise, with so many attacking players vying for places, that the goals are already well spread throughout the squad.

It’s a fair bet that Britt Assombalonga will continue to top the club’s individual scoring. He has by far the best goals per game ratio in the squad and is a natural predator in the penalty area.

The bookies offered short odds on Assombalonga during the summer to score 20 goals this season. He has already laid down strong foundations.

I was delighted for Bamford that he finally broke his duck at Aston Villa because he has previously gone close on several occasions.

Bamford top-scored for Boro with 19 goals in all competitions during his loan spell three years ago, at a rate of a goal in just over every two outings.

Another natural front-runner is Ashley Fletcher. Boro have every faith in him cutting the mustard to justify his huge £5m fee.

Just like Gestede, the Yorkshire-born striker is extremely effective in the

air. The final piece in Monk’s jigOnce Rudy Gestede has recovered from his dead leg, Garry Monk will be able to select three completely different three-man attacking formations saw appears to be Marvin Johnson, who has made a superb impact in his step-up to the Championship.

At the age of 26, Johnson has waited a long time to reach this level of football.

But his early form for Boro suggests that not only will he comfortably adapt, but he can be a match-winner both in creating and scoring goals.

With so many attacking players competing for so few places, it’s possible that Monk might occasionally have problems keeping everybody happy.

But the Boro boss has boxed clever so far by swapping things around and giving all the players opportunities.

As long as Boro can maintain such a battle royal for first-team places, it’s reasonable to assume that Monk’s men will go from strength to strength.