Carrick has high hopes for striker next season

Middlesbrough 3 Watford 1

MICHAEL Carrick believes Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath can carry his fine goalscoring form into next season.

The former Atalanta forward scored his 11th goal in 12 league games, taking his overall tally to 18 in his first season at the Riverside, as he set Boro on their way to a 3-1 victory over Watford.

Latte Lath won the Championship’s player of the month award for April after hitting seven goals in six games and Carrick is excited by what the Ivorian can produce next term.

“We’ve hoped and known the potential he had and his strengths and attributes,” said Boro’s head coach.

“He’s had a really incredible patch in terms of scoring goals and there’s no reason he can’t build on that going into next year.”

Latte Lath fired Boro ahead in the first half when he swept home Luke Ayling’s cross.

Wesley Hoedt drew Watford level 17 minutes from time, but Boro hit back and secured a deserved victory thanks to late goals from substitute Alex Bangura and winger Isaiah Jones.

Boro failed to win any of their first seven games of the season but finished the campaign with just one defeat in 12 to sit eighth, four points shy of the play-offs. Middlesbrough: Dieng, Ayling (Wilson 90), van den Berg, Clarke, Thomas (Bangura 66), Howson (Barlaser 66), McCabe (O'Brien 72), Isaiah Jones, Gilbert (Greenwood 71), Azaz, Latte Lath. Unused substitutes: Dijksteel, Silvera, Coburn, Connor.

Watford: Bachmann, Sierralta, Hoedt, Pollock (Grieves 79), Sema (Morris 46), Kone, Kayembe, Andrews (Eames 90), Bayo, Rajovic (Matheus Martins 55), Asprilla (MEdwards 90). Unused substitutes: Livermore, Hamer, Ramirez-Espain, Nabizada. Referee: J Bell (Yorkshire).