MORGAN Rogers now has what he always craves: confidence. And that bodes well for Middlesbrough moving forward.

The 21-year-old has had to be patient at times this season after joining from Manchester City in the summer and after a run of games as a makeshift striker in the early stages of the campaign has had to settle for a role mainly as a substitute.

But his growing influence from the bench in recent weeks and his impressive showings in the Carabao Cup - he's the top scorer in the competition - have served to build belief and his confidence was further boosted after he was handed a start and scored the winner against West Brom on Saturday.

Rogers is almost certain to keep his place in the team for today's game at bottom club Rotherham, where Boro go in search of a fourth successive win in all competitions.

"Confidence is a big thing for me," said the versatile forward.

"I try to be as as confident as I can be but sometimes it's not possible. I'm at my best when I'm at my most confident and I'm not really thinking about things, it's just off the cuff.

"I think the last few games, especially Saturday, I felt really involved and sharp. I felt much better than maybe I have at other times. That's something I've worked on. I've had to look at myself, I know the level I can get to and the player I can become, it's just about working hard on the training pitch and listening to the amazing coaches I have."

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Boro head for Rotherham today just three points outside the top six - as well as having a Carabao Cup semi-final to look forward to. The prospect of Boro being in this position after seven winless games at the start of the campaign seemed unlikely but Rogers says the players never lost belief during that difficult spell in the opening weeks of the season.

He said: "We were confident from the start. We knew we had enough in the dressing room from day one.

"I know it didn't go right on the pitch at times but we believed in ourselves and knew we could go on a run and grind out results. This week, on the back of two or three losses, you look at each other for a bit of guidance and we looked at the senior lads and they helped to pull us through. We have to go again now."

Rogers played in a new-look front four against West Brom, with Boro lacking a natural striker and Sammy Silvera used as a makeshift centre-forward. On the back of Saturday's impressive display, Carrick will be tempted to go with the same again at the New York Stadium today.

"We're learning about each other and our strengths and weaknesses all the time," said Rogers.

"That's what football is about, playing to each other's strengths and we're a better team for that."

Rogers has enjoyed his Carabao Cup outings but he's now looking to nail down a starting place in the league as well.

He said: "Every game is important to me no matter the competition, I just love being out there and playing football.

"Obviously I haven't been in the league team at times so the Carabao Cup has been a good chance to get minutes and keep on top of myself and show what I'm about, even though the team has been playing well in the league.

"I just love being on the pitch, that's what I dream of doing all during the week, so no matter the game I'll give my all and show what I'm about."