Pundit backs Boro to be in promotion battle
SKY Sports pundit David Prutton has backed Middlesbrough to challenge for promotion next season – adding that Isaiah Jones could once again prove a key player.
Chris Wilder’s side clung on to play-off hopes until the final day last term before defeat to Preston ended their season, eventually finishing five points off Luton who took the final spot.
The Boro boss has now had a full pre-season to work with the squad following his appointment last November and will hope to put his promotion credentials to the test in another gruelling campaign.
His side have had a mixed summer, beating Morecambe, York City and Marseille but losing to Portuguese outfit SC Braga. And ex-Leeds United and Nottingham Forest midfielder
Prutton believes next season could be one full of promise at the Riverside.
“With Boro and Chris, he again was a manager that was quietly confident of getting into the playoffs even though people - pundits, experts - possibly were not giving them enough due respect with regards to getting into that end of season shake up,” Prutton told Mirror Football’s Championship season preview.
“It did go down to the last couple of games, it needed permutations that were pretty far-fetched, but he’s not gone there to be a mid-table Championship side.
“Chris knows about getting teams out of the Championship and he’ll be doing exactly the same with them.”
Boro’s right-sided star Jones was a standout performer last season, scoring once and adding nine assists from right wing-back.
The 23-year-old has courted interest from a number of Premier League clubs as a result of an outstanding season but Prutton has backed him to remain with the club and prove a key player for next season’s promotion push.
“The key player for him is Isaiah Jones,” he added.
“He was such a fun player to watch such an energetic, exciting box of tricks really.
“A surprise, which was great. So there’s a case for them to challenge for promotion with that type of player.”
Boro kick off their 2022/2023 Championship campaign at home to West Brom on Saturday.