Michael Carrick admits he’s encouraged by the ‘really positive signs’ from Samuel Iling-Junior of late, after his recent switch in position.
The versatile forward, who arrived on loan from Aston Villa at the end of the January transfer window, has played Boro’s last three games at left-back after replacing Ryan Giles at half-time in the defeat to Swansea City. He’s already played right and left wing for Carrick’s side too.
Upon joining Boro after a disappointing loan spell in the first half of the season, the 21-year-old himself admitted he wasn’t sure what his best role was. But after initial struggles adapting at Boro, Iling-Junior has slowly grown in his new role, with his performance on Saturday offering plenty of encouragement as he finished the match with two really important assists.
“Sam had a major impact today, there is no getting away from that” Carrick said after. “You can see the longer he’s here, he’s settling. He’s still so young. He was playing for England U21s during the week. He’s had a lot of different experiences and to come mid-season into this league for the first time, it’s a big change for him.
“It feels like everyone has regrouped and resettled since January, and now we’re in a place where Kel’s scoring, Sam’s setting goals up, Morgan [Whittaker]’s coming on and making a really big impact from the bench. It's a really positive sign.”
Central to Iling-Junior’s improvements on Saturday was the freedom he was afforded to attack the left wing. A key feature of the first iteration of Carrick’s Boro, Iling-Junior played the left-back role more advanced than any Boro left-back since Giles in his first Boro spell.
Asked if that had been a particular request of the Boro boss, he explained: “It’s just what he does naturally and how he plays. He’s an attacking player and it’s his natural game. It fits us as well, it fits our style, particularly when Finn plays off the left.
“But it’s natural really [For Iling-Junior]. It’s what he’s good at, and we’re seeing it more and more of what he’s good at, what he’s capable of. Setting up the goals like he has, it’s a big day for him.”
If Iling-Junior can carry on his encouraging form, Carrick could have a dilemma in his team selection for the run-in. Neto Borges is a man in form, but has done well at centre-back of late. But with centre-backs starting to return from injury, the question will be whether Carrick leaves Borges and Iling-Junior in their current roles or switches them back to their more natural positions.