Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick confirms major Ben Doak boost regarding Liverpool recall | OneFootball

It's the news Boro supporters have been waiting for this month regarding their Scottish starlet.

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has confirmed that Ben Doak will remain on Teesside for the remainder of the season after Liverpool's recall cut-off point has been passed.

As reported by The Northern Echo, Boro have been handed a major boost ahead of what they hope will be a big play-off push over the coming months.

Doak has been ripping up the Championship whilst on loan with Middlesbrough so far this season, and highlighted his quality with a superb strike to seal a 2-0 win over West Brom on Tuesday night.

As detailed by The Northern Echo, Liverpool will honour the original terms of Doak's season-long loan agreement, after the expiry date on his recall clause has been passed.

Confirming after Boro's victory over the Baggies in midweek, Carrick said: “The deadline has passed for Ben. I said along I was calm! Obviously we’re really happy he’s here, but genuinely, it hasn’t been a big thing for us.

"He showed again tonight how dangerous he is and then scored a terrific goal. It’s something he can do a little bit more, come inside onto his left foot, because it’s something he’s good at as well. I’m delighted with it.

“He’s got that weapon and unique threat. The way he plays the game, everyone has their own strengths, but the way Ben plays the game, he’s always in the game and always a threat. We’re obviously happy he’ll be staying here. He’s a big role and he’ll continue to do that for the time that he’s here."

It's the news every Middlesbrough supporter has been waiting for, as throughout the month there has been growing fears that he would be summoned back to Anfield so that the Premier League leaders can cash in on the 19-year-old.

A host of top-flight sides have been credited as holding a serious interest in signing the Scotland international this month, whilst Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace both had bids rejected by Liverpool.

Ben Doak staying hands Middlesbrough major boost to their promotion credentials

There's an old saying of 'don't fall in love with a loan player', but that hasn't stopped Teessiders falling head over heels for their Scottish starlet.

Who can blame them either? After all, the electric right-winger has been establishing himself as one of the best, and most feared attackers in the Championship so far this season.

As such, news that he will be representing Middlesbrough until the end of the season won't just come as a relief from a performance perspective, but a squad depth one too.

After selling Isaiah Jones to Luton Town earlier in the window, Carrick's depth on the right flank took a hit, as it left just Doak, Marcus Forss and Micah Hamilton as his only remaining natural and senior options in that position.

Therefore, should Boro have lost Doak too, then Carrick really would have been down to the bare bones in that department, as Forss has been prone to injury setbacks, whilst summer signing Hamilton looks a player with potential, but one who is rather raw at this stage of his development.