CAOLAN Boyd-Munce got off to the best possible start in a Middlesbrough shirt scoring on his debut against Mansfield which was his first senior goal in professional football. It was part of a whirlwind 24 hours in what he describes as a ‘no brainer’ move from Birmingham City.

Boyd-Munce’s signing was announced on Friday afternoon where he then went on to train with his new team mates for the first time.

Having been named in the starting line-up for their FA Cup tie against Mansfield, the 19-year-old doubled Boro’s lead in the 15th minute with a low finish in the box.

While the move itself was completed in next to no time, Boyd-Munce admits it has been bubbling under the surface for a while.

He told the Northern Echo: “There was a bit of interest for a few months. Obviously with Covid and stuff, trying to get the move has been difficult but once I knew there was a bit of something in this, it was literally ‘can I get this done this quick?’

“The club were brilliant at sorting it. It was literally ‘can we get him in as soon as possible?’ Wednesday, it was just ‘it’s happening’ so I had to get up from Birmingham, get up to Middlesbrough as quick as you can, get the medical and try and get signed.

“I did half a session yesterday (Friday) so it’s just been straight into it and just hope for the best and I couldn’t ask for a better start.

Asked whether he had much thinking to do when he was approached by Boro, Boyd-Munce replied: “Never. Not one thought. Straight away. It was just get me here. What a club.

“I don’t think it needs much explaining. A club like Middlesbrough, as soon as there is a bit of interest, you’re going. There is no second thought of ‘do I want to go?’

“Coming up North, people asked about it. I said ‘of course I do, why wouldn’t I?’ What a club but I’m loving being here.”

The Northern Echo:

Boro have been working hard behind the scenes to get new signings in ahead of time with the January transfer window now being open for just over a week.

Boyd-Munce’s signing was proceeded by the loan purchase of Aaron Connolly earlier in the week while Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is set to sign.

It’s been an orchestrated effort from Chris Wilder and Boro’s Head of Recruitment Keiran Scott as Boro’s new Northern Irishman knows only too well.

He added: “It wasn’t directly with Chris. It was more with Kieran. He spoke directly. Because it came so quick I didn’t get the chance to speak to anyone. It was just the case of ‘do you want to come?’ No brainer, straight up.

“There was no selling, there was none ‘do you want to come?’ It was just let’s go.”

Boyd-Munce is hopeful of being involved in Boro’s next game which is at home to Reading in the Championship.