Wilder’s happy to keep ace Akpom
CHRIS Wilder says Chuba Akpom has forced his way back into his plans and appears set to stay at Middlesbrough - just weeks after he appeared certain to leave the club.
Akpom’s Boro career appeared over this summer when he did not return for the start of pre-season training following a loan spell at PAOK last term.
Like other unwanted players, the former Arsenal man was instead told to training alone while waiting to find a new club.
However, with no offers arriving, he was handed a lifeline and has taken advantage.
The striker has made an impressive start to the season and added a threat to Boro’s attack when he came on during the 3-2 defeat at QPR last weekend.
That performance came after solid showings against Marseille in a pre-season friendly and the Championship opener against West Brom, persuading Wilder to rethink his plans.
“He is part of the group. As far as I’m concerned, he is part of the group unless I’m told otherwise,” the former Sheffield United boss said of the £2.75million forward.
“You’d have to ask the boy if he’s enjoying it or not but I think you can see in his performances this season so far that he enjoys the way we play.
“We’re enjoying working with him as well. So fingers crossed, that means it is one less thing we need to do.”
Middlesbrough have struggled to bring in new strikers this summer, only Marcus Forss already through the door at the Riverside having joined from Premier League side Brentford.
While Boro have Josh Coburn on the books, the plan is still to loan him out, despite the 19-year-old set to miss eight weeks after jarring his knee against West Brom.
When Forss went off against QPR at the weekend, the scale of Boro’s attacking problems was highlighted as midfielder Matt Crooks had to play up front due to the lack of other options.
The club, who sold playmaker Marcus Tavernier to Bournemouth for £13million, want more attackers this season and currently only have two out-and-out forwards, Akpom and Forss, though Matthew Hoppe is set to join from Mallorca as soon as he has a work permit.
Akpom’s resurgence means they potentially now need just one more new face up front, though his long-term future is still uncertain as the club are still looking at multiple forward targets.
For now, Wilder will stick with the 26-year-old and has been impressed by what he has seen.
He added: “We were a lot better second half when Chuba came on and gave us a focal point up top..
“He has been outstanding since coming in and I thought he was really good today. If that is a positive over the last couple of week, then it is a positive worth taking.
“I thought he was excellent while he is maybe a little bit disappointed not to score after the goalkeeper made a very good save.
“He should score but I think it was clear to see what he gave us second half as we had someone to play off and build off and he contributed to a much better second half.”
Akpom signed for Middlesbrough from Greek side PAOK in 2020 but scored just five goals in 39 appearances in all competitions.
He was loaned back to PAOK last season and found the net 11 times in 52 games in all competitions before returning to the Boro fold this summer.
His contract expires next summer.
As far as I’m concerned, he’s part of the group unless I’m
told otherwise
Chris Wilder on
Chuba Akpom