Chuba Akpom has thanked Michael Carrick for his impact at Middlesbrough, with the Manchester United legend having overseen a remarkable scoring run for the ex-Arsenal striker.
Since Carrick's arrival on Teesside, the 27-year-old has scored 24 goals in 28 games, adding to the four he had already bagged under previous manager Chris Wilder. This has all been done from a free role playing behind main striker, Aston Villa loanee Cameron Archer, and he has helped propel Boro from the lower reaches of league table into fourth place and the play-off picture.
Carrick has won 18 of his 28 matches in charge in all competitions, showing the skills which saw the former midfielder taken on as assistant manager by both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer at Manchester United. After Solksjaer's departure, he was appointed as interim boss, winning two and drawing one of his three matches in charge.
Akpom has been at Middlesbrough for three seasons, struggling to make an impact in his first campaign before being loaned to PAOK in Greece for the 2021/22 season. He then returned to Boro and started the season well under Chris Wilder but it his performances under Carrick that have really caught the eye.
He most recently set a Championship record for scoring in nine consecutive home games and after their win against Hull on Tuesday night, the striker told Sky Sports how vital Carrick's input has been.
When asked how much he owed Carrick for his good form, Akpom explained: "Massively, I think he's the manager I've been dreaming of my whole career.
"Honestly, he's just a pleasure to work with. I go out there and I give 110 percent and I want to fight for the manager because he's shown so much trust and confidence in me." He added. "I really appreciate it, so I just had to dedicate that to the gaffer.
"Immediately when he came in, he put me in a 10 role and he just gave me the license to roam around. You see on the pitch I'm just roaming right to left and he's given me that freedom to go out there and express myself. I appreciate that so much."
Akpom was a highly-promising forward when coming through the ranks at Arsenal, being given a total of 12 first team appearances under Arsene Wenger. However, a series of loan moves failed to yield the kind of development which would earn regular starting minutes for the Gunners.
He did not hit great heights during spells in Greece and Belgium, meaning his move to Middlesbrough was not treated with much fanfare. However, he is now in the form of his life and in with a serious shout of reaching the promised land of the Premier League next season.
Carrick has also spoken about the qualities shown by Akpom this season. He told Teesside Live last month: "I’ve known Chuba for five months now and he’s desperate to learn and desperate to improve. The first thing he’ll say is credit to his team-mates as well, and they all work for each other.
"But he’s talented. He’s got a real presence, he’s playing with real confidence and he can finish too. I’m not sure why it’s clicked this season, but he’s been a real credit to himself. The beauty about it is, he’s not satisfied. He wants to keep pushing and wants to be better and improve.
"Yeah, he wants to score more goals, but he wants to become a better player all-round because it’s not always about the goals. I know that’s what gets the headlines. But it would be easy to get to 20 goals and say to himself, ‘briliant, well done, that’s a brilliant season’. But he’s striving for more and wants more, and so he should."
Middlesbrough take on fellow promotion hopefuls Luton on Monday night knowing a win will guarantee a place in the play-offs.
