JONNY HOWSON has backed Middlesbrough’s youngsters to make an impact on the first team in the second half of the season.

With a succession of injuries having limited his options in the last few weeks, Michael Carrick has turned to Boro’s youth ranks to supplement his first-team squad.

Calum Kavanagh, a 20-year-old forward, made his second senior appearance as a late substitute in the Boxing Day defeat at Rotherham, having come on to make his debut in the Carabao Cup win at Port Vale.

Law McCabe, a 17-year-old midfielder, also made a substitute appearance at Vale Park, having also previously featured in the league win over Preston, while Aidan Bridge, an 18-year-old midfielder, was an unused substitute at Rotherham’s New York Stadium.

“It’s been good seeing the youngsters step up,” said Howson, who plays an important leadership role, supporting the academy products within the senior squad. “If you’re a young lad now in the 18s or 21s, you must be licking your lips.

“The opportunities are there. We’ve got a lot of games coming up and injuries are part and parcel of football. We’re getting more than we want to, but that can happen at times.

“You just never know, one of these young lads could get the chance, take it and then be involved with us full-time. I’m sure at every club over the years, there will be people who’ve come through in similar circumstances. If you can get the opportunity you’ve got to show what you can do and that you can be trusted. If you’re a young lad now, you should be ready because it’s easy to see you might get a chance.”

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While Howson is at the opposite end of his career to the likes of Kavanagh and McCabe, he can still remember the days when he was an aspiring youngster at Leeds United.

He made his first-team debut in a League Cup game against Barnet in September 2006, and while he has gone on to make almost 650 senior appearances since, he can still remember the events that led up to his first outing.

“The very first start I made was due to nobody else being available,” he said. “Sometimes, an injury can open the door and create that opportunity, coming into the fold from nowhere.

“You get you start, and take the chance. We’ve got a few young lads training and travelling with us, and if they can an opportunity, they’ve got to take it. Sometimes, you get that bit of luck, whether it be through injuries or suspension or whatever, but you’ve got to make sure you’re ready to take that chance.”

Howson is more than happy to perform a mentoring role with Boro’s youngsters, with the 35-year-old seemingly ideally suited to a potential future coaching or managerial role.

For now, he is determined to keep playing for as long as possible, with the emergence of players almost two decades his junior helping to keep him young.

“It does help me,” he admitted. “I’ve always enjoyed seeing young lads come through from the academy. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity early in my career and I know what it means.

“Any young lad coming through the academy, I’m there to help them. Anything they need - help settling in, advice on how to train etc.

“Hopefully, I can set the example of the way to do it, along with the other very good professionals we have in this squad. We set the standards day in, day out, and if they can cope with that, it should stand them in good stead.”