When Chuba Akpom returned to Middlesbrough in the summer after a loan spell in Greece, the striker was training with the club's youngsters and waiting for a call from his agent to tell him where his next move would be.

"I thought I was finished at Middlesbrough," he admits.

Now, less than six months later, Akpom is as happy as he's ever been in his career. He's enjoying a stunning run of form and is feeling the love from Boro's staff, teammates and fans.

"It feels good to be part of something, that's all I've ever wanted," says the ex-Arsenal striker.

"To feel like someone who is important to the team. My teammates and the gaffer have made me feel like that."

Akpom spoke to BBC Tees and the written press pitchside at Bloomfield Road after Boro's win at Blackpool on Tuesday night, the striker creating the first and scoring the third in a 3-0 win.

Quarter of an hour or so earlier, the striker had stood in front of a packed out away end and was serenaded by the travelling Boro faithful at full-time, hailed after scoring his fourth goal in as many games and his eighth of the season, now just one shy of the Championship's top scorers.

Akpom is pinching himself.

"I heard the fans singing my name, it made me so happy," he said.

"After I scored I was a bit emotional thinking look at what we're doing as a team and what I'm doing. I wouldn't have expected this at the start of the season. It's a bit overwhelming. It's surreal, it's like am I dreaming?"

What makes Akpom's form and importance to the Boro cause this season all the more special for the striker is the fact he looked destined for the exit door in the summer. Deemed surplus to requirements by Neil Warnock, Akpom headed for Greece to join PAOK Salonica last season and was a forgotten man when pre-season resumed in the summer.

But Akpom impressed previous boss Chris Wilder and forced his way back into the first team fold, and has kicked on again since the appointment of Michael Carrick, scoring in each of the head coach's four games in charge.

"When I came back I was training with the Under-23s and I just thought me at Middlesbrough was finished. I was waiting for my agent to sort something out,” he says.

"But one thing I was telling myself was no matter whether I'm training by myself or with the 23s, I need to be ready for if an opportunity comes wherever I go or if I get a chance at Middlesbrough.

"I trained hard, I did my extras and I was ready. I had no hard feelings, it's a game of opinions and things change quickly. I'm a professional footballer so I can't stroll around and be sad about these things.

"It's an amazing place to be right now. The lads are positive, the staff are amazing, there's just so much good energy."

The highs of the goal and the midweek win at Blackpool came after a difficult few days for the striker, who was the victim of vile racist abuse after the draw with Bristol City at the weekend.

Earlier this week, Boro hit out at Twitter after the social media platform deemed the abuse that was aimed at Akpom "not in violation of their rules"

Akpom was sat in the Boro dressing room on Saturday evening when he saw the abusive message and, sadly, said he was going to try and "suck it up" until his teammate Liam Roberts told him he needed to report the post.

Boro immediately reported the post to Twitter and Cleveland Police, who are investigating.

Akpom said: "What was really upsetting was after the game I normally get messages from my family. I've checked my phone and seen it. I'm sitting next to Robbo, I show him and he's fuming. I didn't want to report it because I know these things always happen and nothing happens. We just have to suck it up.

"It's really not nice. Imagine scoring, looking at your phone and then seeing this. Robbo was next to me and was really positive. He's the one who reported it. I really appreciate him doing that. I really appreciate the club coming out and supporting me. I got a lot of nice messages from the fans. It's nice to know I have people backing me. I really hope they try and do something about it, it's really not nice."

He continued: "All we can do is try and raise awareness that this goes on. I really appreciate the club has come out and had a go at Twitter. I just need to try and block it out and focus on my football. I wish it didn't happen, I wish people treated everyone nice. We're all human beings."

On the pitch, Akpom is loving life under new boss Carrick and shining in a deeper No.10 type role.

"I'm enjoying it," he said.

"I like getting on the ball. I'm not one of those players who just stays up top. I like to come short, assist my teammates and get involved. I like to get touches on the ball. I'm really enjoying it.

"There's a few adjustments I've had to make to my game. Defensively I have to drop in more to midfield and going forward I need to get in the pockets to get on the ball. But I'm enjoying the partnerships. I'm building a relationship with Izzy (Isaiah Jones) on the right side, Jonny (Howson) and Hayden (Hackney), Marcus (Forss) and Riley (McGree).

"I'm just enjoying my football. It feels like a family here, the lads, the staff, even the chef. The fans are singing my name, it feels like home."