Middlesbrough are back in Championship action on Saturday afternoon as travel to Cardiff City.
With nothing to play for in the remaining two games, it’s just a case of building momentum for Michael Carrick‘s side who have been in fine form of late.
The 4-3 defeat against Leeds United on Monday ended a nine-game unbeaten run, which saw them remarkably back in the playoff race, momentarily.
It was a spirited performance against the West Yorkshire outfit, though, one Middlesbrough player really struggled and should be dropped for the trip to southeast Wales.
Afernee Dijksteel should be dropped vs Cardiff City
Afernee Dijksteel started only his eighth league game of the season against Leeds, with Luke Ayling ineligible to play against his parent club.
Dijksteel certainly looked like a player who hadn’t featured of late, as he endured a torrid 68 minutes up against the recently crowned Championship Player of the Season Crysencio Summerville.
The former Charlton man received a 5.8 match rating, which was the lowest score across the two sets of players, as per Sofascore.
The 27-year-old lost possession 10 times and was ultimately dragged off for Alex Gilbert, who laid on the assist for Emmanuel Latte Lath‘s sublime second goal.
Dijksteel has to be dropped to the bench against Cardiff and Ayling should return to the line-up.
Middlesbrough need a strong finish
Carrick will want to finish the season strongly to carry momentum over to next season but the remaining two games could also have an impact on the transfer window.
Players really do take note of how a team end the season to get a gauge of what the following one may look like.
So for that reason, The Teessiders will want to end a high to attract potential transfer targets this summer.
Carrick and his chiefs desperately need to invest in a goalscoring winger to help share the load with Latte Lath.
They may also need to replace Lewis O’Brien, who is due to return to Nottingham Forest at the end of his loan spell.
A big summer awaits Middlesbrough and they must get it right to give Carrick the best chance possible of firing the club back into the Premier League after a seven-year absence.