Middlesbrough secured a convincing win against Cardiff City on Saturday and one ace really stood out.
Michael Carrick‘s men were clinical in southeast Wales yesterday and moved up to eighth in the Championship table with victory.
The Riverside outfit played the Bluebirds off the park in portions and the fourth goal only amplified that notion as Alex Gilbert finished off a wonderful move.
Gilbert has been receiving much of the plaudits, and rightfully so, but one Boro star really was the unsung hero.
Finn Azaz was the unsung hero vs Cardiff City
Finn Azaz joined the Teesiders in January, completing a £2.5m move from Premier League side Aston Villa.
Azaz was a little slow to get going and struggled to replicate his early season form that he showed at Plymouth Argyle, but of late, he’s really started to show his true class.
Yesterday was one of his best displays in a Boro shirt, as he netted and laid on two assists in the 4-1 thrashing.
His second assist was particularly impressive, curling a long left-footed pass in behind Cardiff’s defence for Emmanuel Latte Lath to run onto before finishing expertly.
Middlesbrough should build their team around Finn Azaz next season
It’s become pretty evident in recent weeks, with the sensational form Middlesbrough have been on, that they aren’t far away from becoming serious promotion contenders next term.
Boro have only suffered one defeat in their last 10 games, which is a remarkable run which forecasts a bright future.
They just need a couple of additions in the forward area to really kick on, particularly out wide having lost Morgan Rogers in January.
That said, whoever comes in, they need to fit around Azaz, who has to be the main man in attacking midfielder.
Carrick must play to his strengths and bring in fleet-footed wingers to run off the former Plymouth playmaker, allowing him more space to create in the pockets.
Further, if Azaz has willing runners out wide, he’s shown he has the awareness and ability to pick out an incisive passes down the channels.
A telling window awaits.