Will Adam prove Boro’s undoing?

AITOR KARANKA hopes Adam Reach does not come back to haunt him in Middlesbrough’s FA Cup third-round clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Boro boss Karanka admits his decision to let academy product Reach join the Championship side last September in a £5-million deal was both “difficult and easy’’.

That was because, while Karanka rates the former England Under-20 winger very highly, he could not guarantee him a starting role and knew he needed to play regularly.

But ambitious Karanka has revealed he would love to see County Durham-born Reach, 23, continue his development with Wednesday – and return to Boro “when we are in the Europa League or Champions League”.

That might sound fanciful but Karanka said: “Adam’s heart is at Middlesbrough but he knew the best thing for him was to move.

“I hope, one day, he can come back here when we are playing in the Europa League or Champions League and play with us – because he’s a Middlesbrough man.

“He’s young and he’s playing games, which is the main thing. He was at Preston, too, last season and he made a difference on loan there.

“Now, Sheffield is another step forward for him, so if he keeps making those steps he can play at a higher level, for sure.

“I think he shows every week how good he is but I hope he doesn’t play his best against us because, if he does, he’s a really good player.

“It was difficult and easy to let him go. Difficult because I like Reachy a lot. He had progressed a lot and he’s an amazing kid. It was difficult but in another way, it was easy because he deserves to play.

“To keep him here without playing, being on the bench or in the stand, he doesn’t deserve to be treated that way.

“So when he told me that a team like Wednesday wanted him, I was pleased because he has a bright future.’’

With Gaston Ramirez doubtful and Viktor Fischer ruled out, Stewart Downing is in line to make only his second start in two months.

Karanka is also hoping injurytroubled midfielder Grant Leadbitter, who made his solitary start this season in the 2-1 New Year’s Eve defeat at Manchester United, will be fit despite missing training.