Middlesbrough FC: Ben Doak concern raised as January looms | OneFootball

FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit has pinpointed his main concern for the club going into the January transfer window

Middlesbrough have brought themselves into promotion contention with their recent form.

Michael Carrick’s side will be aiming to earn a top six finish in the Championship after narrowly missing out on the play-offs in the previous campaign.

Positive results in the games leading into the November international break have moved them up the table.

Nine goals from their last two games earned them an important six points, earning wins over QPR and Luton Town.

Boro will be hoping to carry that form into the busy December period ahead of the all-important January transfer window.

Middlesbrough January transfer window concern raised

When asked what one concern he’d have for the winter market, FLW’s Middlesbrough fan pundit claimed the potential sale of star players is an issue he feels could arise.

The sale of Morgan Rogers last year will be easily remembered by many Boro supporters, amid the positive form of the likes of Hayden Hackney, Rav van den Berg and Emmanuel Latte Lath.

“One concern I’d have heading into January, and it’s just part of having such a good squad and tons of players, would be losing one of our key players,” Hudson told Football League World.

“I think [Ben] Doak is the standout, he’s getting better and better each week, his performances are really good.

“I think it’s unlikely he will be recalled in January, but there is always a possibility, especially if Liverpool were to get an injury, so that is definitely one thing I would be concerned about.

“Without Doak, I think we are quite weak in comparison on the right-hand side.

“You’ve got other players though, like Hackney in midfield.

“Losing him would just really challenge our midfield, because Morris has worked so well together [with him].

“Rav van den Berg as well, just to lose such a good player midway through a season is always a bit of an issue, as we found out losing Morgan Rogers last year.

“And the other one that stands out is Latte Lath, obviously he had rumours of moving away to a Premier League side in Ipswich in the summer.

“I don’t think he will move, and we have Tommy Conway who is a good backup.

“But it’s just a shame to lose such good players, so that is definitely a concern going into January.”

Middlesbrough’s promotion ambition

Middlesbrough moved up to seventh in the Championship table with their back-to-back wins heading into the last international break of 2024.

The likes of Doak, Latte Lath and Hackney have been crucial to their uptick in recent form, with the Liverpool loanee contributing one goal and three assists since arriving in the summer.

Latte Lath has got back in goal-scoring form too, bringing his tally up to four with his first-half strike against the Hatters last weekend.

Next up for Boro is an away trip to face Oxford United on 23 November.

Keeping this team together will be key for Carrick in January

Losing Rogers last year had a negative impact on the side, and was potentially the difference between finishing inside the top six and not.

So Carrick will be keen to keep all of his star players together this winter, especially now that they’re just finding form together in the last week or two.

Consistency has been an issue of late, but their last two wins show the potential this squad possesses.