If Duncan Watmore can stay fit, he could be an inspired addition to Neil Warnock’s often goal-shy Middlesbrough front line.
That is an ‘if’ the size of the Transporter Bridge, however. After all, this is a player who, thanks a cruel and unrelenting series of injuries, has failed to make more than 20 appearances in a single league campaign since 2015/16.
Eyebrows were raised, then, when Middlesbrough decided to hand Watmore a fresh start five months after he was released by near neighbours Sunderland.
But while the 25-year-old didn’t set the Riverside alight on his Boro debut, with one fan pointing out he’d happily lend a bottle of WD40 to take care of the rust, Watmore did enough in his 63 minutes of action to suggest Warnock’s risk will reap rewards.
It took just half an hour last night for the Sunderland academy graduate to produce an assist for his new employers, setting up Britt Assombalonga’s opener in a comfortable 3-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Derby County.
“Duncan made the first goal. I don’t think anybody else would have been in that position. It was a great header for Britt,” said a clearly enthused Warnock talking to Teesside Live.
After Saturday’s controversial defeat to Norwich City, Middlesbrough produced the ideal response as they moved to within six points of top spot in the Championship.
How Sunderland, toiling in the division below, could do with a player of Watmore’s energy and industry right now.
Here’s how some Boro fans reacted to Watmore’s performance:
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