CHUBA AKPOM has reflected on his hat-trick heroics in the Boxing Day win over Wigan Athletic and told Middlesbrough supporters, ‘There is still more to come’.

Akpom scored a second-half treble as Boro signed off their Riverside campaign for 2022 in style, with his seasonal tally of 12 league goals making him the Championship’s joint leading scorer.

His form in the first half of the season represents a remarkable turnaround from the summer, when he was initially deemed surplus to requirements by former boss Chris Wilder, with his performances having leaped to an even higher level since was repositioned into the ‘number ten’ slot by current head coach Michael Carrick.

Akpom has revelled in his new role, but feels he will only improve as he continues to come to terms with the demands of his new position.

“I’m enjoying it, and I’m still learning that role as well,” said the forward, who is now contracted to the Riverside until the summer of 2024 after Boro triggered a clause in his deal. “I do a lot of homework on that position, and on the opposition as well.

“I just want to keep improving. I just try to give as much as possible wherever the gaffer wants to play me, and be as good as I can be to get the best out of myself.”

Akpom has experienced plenty of ups and downs during his two-and-a-half years on Teesside, and readily admits Monday was his best day in a Boro shirt.

“What a day,” he said, in an interview with BBC Tees. “That was my first time playing at a full Riverside. My family were there, my little man was there, so what a day to get a hat-trick. I’m so happy.

“I just tried to be in the right places at the right time, and it’s a good thing that I’m scoring, but it’s even better that we’re getting the wins. I’m really happy for the team because we can’t do it without each other.

“We couldn’t do anything without each other, so it wouldn’t be fair for all the focus to just be on me. We’re all together, and we’ll all keep our feet on the ground and stay focused for the rest of the season.”