IN a sliding doors moment, Josh Coburn could now be honing his craft as a striker the full length of England away at Plymouth Argyle.
A loan move appeared a near certainty with the 20-year-old even looking at accommodation options in Devon.
Instead, Coburn’s first goal of the season for the winner at Watford - and first for two seasons in a Boro shirt – means that the youngster from Bedale is now Michael Carrick’s preferred option up front.
Coburn said: “It feels great. It’s been a while since I last scored for Boro. The last few weeks have been massive. Being chucked in at Sheffield Wednesday, I knew it was a big moment for me and I knew I had to prove myself.
“I know my ability and that I can do that. Thankfully I’ve taken my chance. Hopefully I can stay in the team now.
“At the start of the season, it was looking likely that I was going out on loan. I wasn’t 100 per cent sure because anything can happen in football. I’m here now and I want to take my chance. That’s the main thing, to play for Boro.
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“It was brilliant for me on loan at Bristol Rovers last season. But being a Boro fan, that’s what you dream of, getting your chance here. I just want to keep going and keep my spot in the team.”
Coburn’s goal at Vicarage Road came in spite of aching feet caused by a pair of new boots he wore in the build-up to the Watford game.
Coburn added: “I’ve got blisters everywhere. I was wearing new boots in training this week. Bad idea, so I went back to my old boots. I can’t change them now, can I?”
Carrick was fulsome in his praise of Coburn and the young striker’s all-round impact on Boro’s three-match unbeaten run in the Championship.
Carrick said: “Josh has improved a lot in a short space of time since we started working with him at the start of pre-season.
“He missed three or four weeks out injured as well, so it’s been a bit stop-start for him, but you can see him getting used to the boys as well.
“He hasn’t been around some of the players because obviously he wasn’t here last season. In some ways for us it’s like a new signing and we’re grateful to have him.
“I really enjoy working with him. He’s a great lad, great character, as honest as you can get and he’s definitely got quality to score goals.”
Carrick was quick to downplay the burden that will be placed on Coburn to head Boro’s goalscoring charts this season.
He added: “It’s not a one-man show or one man’s responsibility and it’s certainly not all on Josh’s shoulders to score the goals for us to be successful. But he’ll have a big contribution to make, for sure.
“We’ll be patient with him. I’m not hanging everything on Josh. I don’t think it’s fair to do that. He’s learning the game in his development at the club, so we need to expect some ups and downs with him, but it’s really encouraging what we’re seeing.”
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