Cascarino says Adama Traore key for Middlesbrough against Aston Villa

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Middlesbrough and Aston Villa will face each other in the Championship playoffs.

Tony Cascarino has written in The Times that Adama Traore will be a key player for Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff against Aston Villa.

Villa will take on Middlesbrough in the semi-finals of the Championship playoffs this season.

The first leg of the semi-final playoff tie will be held at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday evening, with the second leg to take place at Villa Park next Tuesday evening.

Former Villa striker Cascarino has looked ahead to the tie, and has picked Middlesbrough winger Traore as a key player for Boro.

Cascarino wrote in The Times: “I would give the edge to Villa but it could be close. Steve Bruce has built a team with plenty of Premier League experience — the likes of John Terry, James Chester and Robert Snodgrass — and it has paid off.

“Middlesbrough are strong in defence, having kept Ben Gibson, Daniel Ayala and George Friend, but their chances will probably depend upon Adama Traore, the pacey and skilful winger who was once at Villa.”

Quality footballer

Traore is one of the best wingers in the Championship, and the 22-year-old will have to be at his very best for Boro to win against Villa in the Championship playoffs.

The Spanish youngster has made 26 starts and eight substitute appearances in the Championship for Middlesbrough this season, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists in the process.

According to The Northern Echo, Middlesbrough had to pay Villa a transfer fee of £6 million in order to secure the services of the former Barcelona winger in the summer of 2016.