ERICPAYLOR

MIDDLESBROUGH’S biggest and best move of the summer would be if they could bring Cameron Archer back on a season-long loan.

The prospect of an Archer-Chuba Akpom partnership up front would surely give Boro a great chance of winning promotion.

At the moment Archer has gone back to parent club Aston Villa.

His potential at the highest level is clearly reflected in the fact he still has four years remaining on his long contract with the Midlands club.

In addition, Villa boss Unai Emery has already stressed right now Archer will come into first team reckoning.

However, it is a long summer and Villa, like all the Premier League clubs, have a lot of money to spend.

If Villa buy one, or even two, big-name strikers before the start of the season then Archer’s opportunities will diminish somewhat.

Villa have just enjoyed a very good season. They will have their sights set firmly on making further progress next season.

Like all players, Archer will want to play Premier League football with his home club and test himself at the highest level.

The prospect of being a bit-part player might not appeal so much, especially as he loved his time at Boro and knows there is another opportunity here.

The bottom line is we will probably have to wait until much closer to the start of the season, and possibly beyond, before we know whether Boro have a chance of bringing Archer back.

What a mouth-watering prospect it would be - to have Archer and Akpom hopefully banging in the goals like last season.

That is in addition to the terrific shot in the arm it would give to the rest of the squad.

Akpom, of course, was a revelation last season with his 29 goals but had he been here for the full season then Archer would surely have been not too far behind.

Cameron scored 11 goals and made six assists in 22 appearances for Boro. This equates to 19 goals over a full league season.

That is not taking into account the fact Archer will be a far better player for the experience which he gained in his few months on Teesside. Certainly he would be lacking nothing in confidence if he came back.

A 40-plus goals striking partnership will make a big difference to Boro’s prospects, especially when you consider there are bound to be goals elsewhere from the likes of Marcus Forss, Matt Crooks and Riley McGree, plus any other attacking players who might be