Rhodes did not even make the bench for the 2-1 win on Sunday, but could be involved in Boro’s EFL Cup tie with Fulham.
Rhodes is set to be handed an chance to impress in Wednesday’s EFL Cup tie with Fulham
Jordan Rhodes has been challenged to prove he is worthy of a place in boss Aitor Karanka’s plans for Middlesbrough this season, the Daily Star has reported.
Rhodes arrived at the Riverside last season for £9 million, but has enjoyed a difficult start to life in the Premier League, and failed to even make the bench for the recent Wear-Tees derby win at Sunderland on Sunday.
His misery was compounded on Tuesday after he was axed from the latest Scotland squad, but he is set to ben handed a chance to impress in Boro’s EFL Second Round tie with Fulham on Wednesday.
And Karanka insists he has no hesitations in giving the former Blackburn Rovers ace a chance to impress, hinting he could still have a future at the club.
The Daily Star quoted him as saying: “I speak to Jordan all the time. He’s a good kid and I trust him 100 per cent.
“He understands there is a lot of competition among the strikers. He’s fighting for his place just like everyone else. But that competition is good for him.”
Despite the vote of confidence, Rhodes continues to be linked with a move away this summer, with recent reports linking him with Wolverhampton Wanderers and, more recently, Norwich City.
Should Rhodes fail to take his chance against an unbeaten Fulham side, it could mark the beginning of the end of his time on Teesside.
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