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MIDDLESBROUGH kicked off their summer friendlies by dominantly beating Bishop Auckland at Heritage Park on Saturday afternoon.
Chris Wilder played two different teams in each half, with goalkeeper Liam Roberts the only player to play the full 90 minutes as he kept a clean sheet on his first outing for the club.
While these early games are always more about building fitness and matchsharpness, every time they step out onto a pitch, be that in training, a friendly match or a competitive match. Wilder is watching and monitoring. With that in mind, which Boro players stood out at Bishop Auckland? We take a closer look.
RILEY MCGREE
McGree netted the first goal of the summer for Middlesbrough with a low drive which went through a crowd of bodies and beat the goalkeeper.
It came about from a cleverly-worked one-two from a corner with Paddy McNair and his own positivity to cut in from the right on his left foot and have a go.
He had had the games first major chance early on with a similarly-worked piece of play but fired just wide of the top corner on that occasion before gaining the rewards for making sure his second effort hit the target. It was the culmination of a really lively and positive 45 minutes for the Australian.
Playing in a very advanced midfield role, he showed a willingness to always get on the ball and look to do something as he linked well with the wing-backs and sprayed the ball about well.
It was a positive first outing of the summer for him, showing much of the positivity which provided the reason for Boro wanting to bring him to the club in January.
DUNCAN WATMORE
Watmore did not manage to get among the goals in this one but he was still really bright throughout. He quite often dropped the deeper of the two strikers and looked to link the play between midfield and attack as Sonny Finch played on the last shoulder.
The most senior of Boro’s strikers showed much of the exuberance that makes him so popular among Boro fans.
He used the ball at his feet well and enjoyed driving at the Bishop defence.
On more than one occasion he was probably a tad unfortunate to win his side free-kicks on dangerous positions.
There was just the minor grievance in that once or twice his head was down and
driving with the ball so much t he missed good opportunities to slide through young Finch - but his positivity and never-say-die attitude also led to him creating a great opportunity for Matt Crooks, while he kept an overhit cross alive to assist Tommy Smith’s goal.
MARC BOLA
Chris Wilder took a look at Marc Bola as a left-sided centre-back in this one but it was more to do with numbers as he had Hayden Coulson at left wing-back. The Boro boss is still actively looking to recruit a left-footed centre-back and while the level of the
opposition meant he was not particularly tested defensively Bola still showed capabilities of being an option for that wide centre-back role next season.
He got forward really well as Wilder likes his wide centre-backs to and he linked really well with Coulson down the left wing to create many chances.
Anthony Callaghan’s unfortunate own goal came from a wicked Bola cross too, with such a delivery doing him no harm during a summer where he has a lot to prove after the arrival of Ryan Giles.
Shout out too to Hayden Coulson who linked really well with Bola and was positive throughout the second half.
Coulson has been told, along with three others, he has no future this summer and should find a new club.
While the other three are not involved with the group at the start of the summer, Coulson continues to be and got a good 45 minutes in the tank as he hopes to find the right move to get his career firmly back on track.
JOSH COBURN/ CAL KAVANAGH
The two academy strikers partnered each other up top in the second half and complimented each other well.
Both worked hard in the press and were positive in looking for goals as Boro were much more in control in the second half.
Coburn did his chances of extended game time next season no harm as he finished smartly to wrap up Boro’s scoring.
Kavanagh, meanwhile, was so positive and full of movement throughout.
He caused problems every time the ball was anywhere near him and ran off the should of the last defender well too.
He will possibly be a little disappointed he did not finish the game with a goal but at the very least he deserved the chance to impress again - and given Boro’s lack of striker options right now he very well
could.