Middlesbrough: Anfernee Dijksteel revival could seal teammate's fate: View | OneFootball

Dijksteel's early season form could secure him a new Boro contract, and in-turn, help seal the fate of fellow out of contract defender Tommy Smith.

The Middlesbrough career of Anfernee Dijksteel looked to be coming to an end this summer but his early season performances have resurrected it, and potentially sealed the fate of his teammate Tommy Smith's time on Teesside.

Dijksteel was a player that Middlesbrough were reportedly looking to sell during the summer transfer window, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.

But, whether it was down to a change of heart by himself, his manager Michael Carrick, or simply because Boro couldn't find a dance partner to do business with, the Suriname international remained a Middlesbrough player as the transfer window slammed shut.

With his impressive displays during the first few weeks of the season highlighting the impact he can have on the squad, the 27-year-old may well have jumped above Smith in the pecking order at the right-back spot.

Smith, like Dijksteel, is also out of contract next summer. But, could the form of his teammate ensure Boro present a new contract to Dijksteel, simultaneously pushing him closer to the exit door?

Football League World investigates...

Dijksteel's form will surely force Boro's hand over a new contract

When it comes to making a decision over a player's contract, a lot of the time it's the player who determines whether the club decides to keep the player around, or let them go.

Duncan Watmore is a good recent example of this when it comes to Middlesbrough, with the now-Millwall forward putting in a series of top performances whilst on trial in 2020, that left Boro with an obvious decision to make.

In the case of Dijksteel, his displays in a Middlesbrough shirt so far this season have been excellent, with the versatile defender stepping in to provide cover at both right-back and in central defence.

Indeed, over the course of the opening four Championship games of the season, only Matt Clarke is averaging a higher per-game rating (7.76) out of 10 than Dijksteel's 7.64 in the whole of Middlesbrough's squad - per FotMob.

The early signs are that Dijksteel appears determined to prove to Middlesbrough's decision-makers that it would be in their best interest to keep him at the football club beyond this season.

Whilst Smith continues to recover from an Achilles injury that has sidelined him since last October, Dijksteel is taking full advantage of the opportunity presented to him.

Smith could face battle to see enough minutes to stake his contract claim

With Dijksteel in such good form, it's hard to see Carrick turning straight back to Smith as his number-two option at the right-back position.

The 32-year-old hasn't made an appearance in what is almost a year and even when he is deemed fit enough to lace up his boots again, Boro will likely not want to rush him back into action after being absent for so long.

As such, the veteran defender will likely receive limited opportunities to impress Carrick and his coaching staff between now and the end of the season and as he enters the final years of his career, he will likely want to see out his time as a footballer playing the game he loves.

With Dijksteel not turning 28 until late October, he still should have plenty of good years ahead of him, especially given the fact he should have more tread on his tyres than the average player his age, given the fact he too has dealt with injuries and reduced playing time in recent years.

Boro's chiefs will no doubt be looking at the long-term stability of every position in the squad, and at right-back, it can be argued that it would be better to only carry one aged 30+ right-back into 2025/26 rather than two.

So, with Dijksteel and Smith set to battle it out for a new Middlesbrough contract at the right-back position, it's the former who is surely comfortably ahead on the scorecards through the early rounds of the season.