Middlesbrough head coach Micheal Carrick has given his verdict regarding the “natural” position of Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho, Footynaija.com reports.
Iheanacho, who joined the EFL Championship side on loan from Sevilla in the January transfer window, has struggled to put up consistently impressive performances since his arrival at the Riverside Stadium.
Despite arriving as a replacement for Ivorian striker Emmanuel Latte Lath, who completed a move to Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United, the Nigeria international has played almost all of his football as a No.10, with Scottish striker Tommy Conway spear-heading Carrick’s attack.
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Carrick’s verdict
Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to The Den to face Millwall, Carrick insisted that Iheanacho thrives best in a deeper attacking role.
“It’s a natural position for him,” the former Manchester United interim boss said in quotes revealed by The Northern Echo.
“He can create goals, and he can score goals – he’s done that throughout his career. He’s a danger, he can link-up and has an eye for a pass and a through ball. His positioning in and around that area is good as well.
“I’ve said it for quite some time anyway, front players are quite fluid anyway in the way the link up. We’re not quite so rigid, especially in those attacking areas. The players have the freedom to go and express themselves.”
Carrick also defended the Nigerian forward after a section of Boro fans booed him off the pitch following a disappointing performance in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Leeds United.
“I don’t know what the mad fuss is about to be honest,” he said.
“He’s played in a team that has just won a number of games in a short period of time, He’s been a big part of that. He made two goals at Blackburn, scored in the one before that, a massive goal for us at the time. Perspective is important.”
