Wolves and Cardiff City will wince at what's happened in Middlesbrough's last 2 games | OneFootball

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City may be wincing at what's happened in Middlesbrough's first two Championship games with Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Cardiff City all have very different aspirations this season, but Brighton & Hove Albion winger Amario Cozier-Duberry is already giving them something in common.

Middlesbrough narrowly missed out on the automatic promotion places last term before losing the Championship play-off final to Hull City, with Kim Hellberg's side now wanting to go one better after a busy summer transfer window.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are targeting an immediate return to the Premier League, while Cardiff City will be looking to consolidate after promotion from League One. Yet after just two games on Teesside, Boro may have found a player capable of making a serious difference to their promotion push.

Former Arsenal ace Amario Cozier-Duberry has immediately shown what Wolves and Cardiff missed out on

Action images

Amario Cozier-Duberry could hardly have made a better start to life at Middlesbrough. The Brighton loanee scored on his league debut against Norwich City, before producing another goal and an electric performance against Millwall on Tuesday night.

The goal itself was important, particularly as Boro fought back from two goals down to earn a point, but his overall display was arguably even more encouraging. Cozier-Duberry looked incredibly dynamic, repeatedly taking responsibility in one-vs-one situations and asking questions of his marker whenever he received the ball.

There is a real unpredictability to his game. He can take a defender on before cutting inside to create room for a shot on his left foot, but he can also burst down the outside and use his right to cut the ball back into the danger area. That variety makes him difficult to contain.

That is why Wolves and Cardiff may be looking on with some frustration. Both Championship sides were linked with the winger before Boro swooped, while others like Bolton were also interested in extending Cozier-Duberry's stay after he helped them win promotion from League One last season.

Instead, Middlesbrough have landed the player's services for the 2026/27 season in the Championship — and he already looks ready to make an impact in the long-term.

Middlesbrough may have found a Championship gem in Cozier-Duberry

Action Images

What makes Cozier-Duberry's start even more striking is the contrast with his previous Championship experience. His loan spell at Blackburn Rovers was hardly disastrous, but he struggled to establish himself as a regular, making 22 Championship appearances but starting only six and scoring once.

Within two games for Middlesbrough, he has already bettered that goals tally and, more importantly, looks far more influential within his team's attacking structure. That is a significant development for a player who had already shown plenty of promise at Arsenal.

Brighton saw enough in him to make a permanent move in July 2024, and his progress at Bolton last season only strengthened that belief. He registered eight goals and 11 assists in 34 League One appearances as the Trotters secured promotion, earning a place in the division's Team of the Year.

Brighton subsequently handed him a new contract before allowing him to move to Middlesbrough on loan, demonstrating how highly they continue to value his development. Boro needed a replacement for Morgan Whittaker after his big-money move to MLS, and they may have landed an ideal solution.

There is still plenty for Cozier-Duberry to prove, of course, but the early signs are hugely encouraging. If anything, Cozier-Duberry could be an upgrade on Whittaker in terms of quality, even though the Colorado Rapids winger provided plenty of goals and assists for Boro.

For the clubs who were previously considering the Brighton winger, that is the frustrating part: they knew about the talent, but Middlesbrough are the ones now getting to see it develop.

Wolves will have to contend with Middlesbrough's firepower in the promotion race

Action Images

The timing of Cozier-Duberry's emergence could also prove to be particularly significant because Middlesbrough are entering a period when the Championship promotion race will begin to take shape.

Cardiff are outside that particular conversation after their promotion from League One, but Wolves, West Ham, Swansea City, Southampton, West Brom, and Middlesbrough all have ambitions of reaching the Premier League.

With so many sides competing for a limited number of places, the head-to-head fixtures between the leading contenders will carry enormous importance. That makes Cozier-Duberry's emergence particularly interesting for Wolves in the next month.

Middlesbrough face Wolves in October, which is the game immediately after the upcoming international break, giving Cozier-Duberry and Will Lankshear another opportunity to combine against one of the sides expected to be competing near the top of the division.

The return fixture comes at Molineux towards the end of February, by which point the promotion race should be entering a decisive stage.

Boro will therefore have two direct opportunities to cause damage to one of their promotion rivals, with Cozier-Duberry already looking like the kind of player who can change games.

After scoring against Norwich and Millwall in his first two league appearances, he has shown an ability to make himself decisive almost immediately. It is far too early to suggest he will maintain this level all season, but Middlesbrough will certainly hope this is the beginning of something special.