Rob Edwards must start classy Middlesbrough star v West Brom - £25k-a-week man may need to be dropped | OneFootball

Sverre Nypan must be given a starting spot for Middlesbrough after impressive Championship start

Rob Edwards may not be able to ignore handing Sverre Nypan a starting spot after his impressive cameos off the bench so far this season - Morgan Whittaker may need to be dropped.

Middlesbrough have got off to a flyer this season under the new management of former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards as they currently sit pretty at the top of the Championship with 13 points from five games.

However, their last outing in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Preston North End at Deepdale, brought about a mixed reaction as the result went down as points dropped, despite their unbeaten run still intact.

Rob Edwards has taken the reins from Michael Carrick this season and immediately fostered a high morale within the tight-knit group as well as implemented a new system at the Riverside Stadium. One position that has cause for concern though in the early stages is right wing/right attacking midfield position depending on Edwards' chosen formation on the day.

The man who has occupied that spot up to now has been the ex-Plymouth star Morgan Whittaker and the Boro faithful have certainly raised concerns over his name after his sub-par start.

Edwards' new system, which operates with three central defenders, has allowed Whittaker, who is estimated to earn £25k-a-week at Boro, to remain a constant within his starting lineups.

However, with the young talent Sverre Nypan patiently waiting in the wings for a starting spot after a few impressive cameos off the bench, including playing a key role in the first equaliser versus Preston, it may only be a matter of time until the 18-year-old is chosen ahead of the struggling Whittaker.

Sverre Nypan's impressive performances may be hard for Rob Edwards to ignore starting the youngster

During Boro's draw against Preston on the weekend, Nypan was introduced as a replacement for Whittaker in the 66th minute, and the fans were quick to make their feelings heard as his substitution was met by a rousing cheer which included a hint of sarcasm.

Six minutes later, Nypan made an immediate impact yet again this season, as his raw desire to beat a man... or men, was key in starting off a move that resulted in Matt Targett netting an equaliser to make it 1-1. His direct nature in taking the game to his opponents has been a secret weapon for Edwards, and you can certainly see why the Manchester City loanee was snapped up by the European giants.

Getting valuable minutes from the bench at Boro may have to translate into a starting role soon enough if Morgan Whittaker doesn't start firing in the near future.

Nypan could be given his opportunity to impress on a regular basis in one of those two number 10 roles that Edwards is deploying behind the main centre-forward or even in his most natural central midfield role. But, with Hayden Hackney and Aiden Morris yet to put a foot wrong this season, you'd seem to think that it would be Whittaker who faces a drop to the bench if Edwards were to switch up his personnel.

Sverre Nypan could be a match winner versus West Brom

With Middlesbrough gearing up for action on Friday night at the Riverside Stadium against West Brom, Nypan must be handed a starting role and could well be the difference in keeping up their unbeaten run in the Championship this season for yet another week.

We have already seen his quality in front of goal when Nypan was playing in his native homeland with Rosenborg. The young Norwegian in 2024 scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 28 league appearances, which attracted interest across Europe, with Manchester City securing his signature for the future.

These numbers prove that Nypan is more than capable of replicating this form at Championship level. It is merely a case of Edwards giving the 18-year-old the chance and sufficient game-time to produce.