CHRIS WILDER will be taking it “day by day” with Chuba Akpom, after making the surprise move to restore the striker to Middlesbrough’s first-team fold.

Having been frozen out of the first-team picture entirely since returning from a loan spell at Greek side PAOK last season, Akpom returned to first-team training at Boro’s Rockliffe Park base in the second half of last week.

He was named amongst the substitutes for Friday night’s friendly with Marseille, and came on for the final 28 minutes as Boro rounded off their pre-season preparations with an impressive 2-0 win.

With Wilder having failed to recruit a new striker so far this summer, attacking options ahead of Saturday’s Championship season-opener with West Brom are largely non-existent.

So, while the prospects of Akpom playing a prominent role in the forthcoming campaign remain slight, there is a decent chance he could find himself in the squad for Saturday’s home game with the Baggies.

Wilder said: “You’ve seen the numbers that we’re working with. At our football club at the moment, the situation as it stands is that we’re working with the numbers that we’ve got.

“That’s just the fact of the matter, although we’re trying incredibly hard to do some deals.

“Chuba’s attitude has been good, so he’s joined the group for the last couple of days. There’s no downside for him coming on, running about, and playing a part.

“He’s contracted to the football club. He understands where we’re at, and I understand where he’s at. We’ll just take it day by day, and then go from there.”