The Middlesbrough Player Who Is the Biggest Unknown Quantity Heading Into Next Season
Sierra Leone international Alex Bangura can count himself one of the unluckiest players to have worn the Boro shirt in recent years.
When Middlesbrough signed Bangura from SC Cambuur last summer, the expectation was that he would become a mainstay at left-back. Quick, confident on the ball, and boasting international pedigree, Bangura looked a shrewd addition to Michael Carrick’s squad. I, for one, believed he would lock down the position and offer real attacking threat down the flank.
Bangura no doubt had similar ambitions for his first season in the Championship. But football, as we know, can be cruel. His campaign was plagued by injuries that never really allowed him to get going. It felt like every time he was close to returning to full fitness, another setback occurred. The result? A lost season, where the 24-year-old spent more time with the medical team than on the training pitch.
That’s why heading into next season, Bangura is arguably the biggest unknown quantity in the Middlesbrough squad. Supporters haven’t had a proper chance to see what he can bring to the table, and Carrick has been unable to judge him properly in the heat of regular competition.
Yet there are signs of promise. His brief appearances showed flashes of a dynamic full-back who likes to get forward and deliver crosses, fitting well into the system Carrick has been trying to develop. If Bangura can enjoy a clean bill of health over pre-season and start strong in the early months of the campaign, Boro may find themselves with a fresh and unexpected asset in their push for promotion.
But there are ifs—and plenty of them. Can he stay fit? Can he adjust quickly to the pace and physicality of the Championship, especially after such a long layoff? And will Carrick give him the chance to cement his place, or has the club already started looking at alternatives?
The left-back position has been a tricky one for Boro in recent years, with no single player truly making it his own for any prolonged period. Bangura still has time to be that player. But time, in football, is always running short. The upcoming season might be make or break for him.
With all the excitement surrounding potential new signings and returning stars, Alex Bangura is flying under the radar. But if he can stay fit and show what he’s capable of, he could be one of the most important ‘new’ players in the squad—even if he’s already wearing the shirt.
In a summer filled with anticipation and rebuilding, Bangura remains the wild card. One way or another, we’ll find out just how valuable he can be.
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