MICHAEL Carrick has backed Emmanuel Latte Lath to carry his blistering form into next season.

Latte Lath scored his 11th goal in 12 league games as he set Boro on their way to a 3-1 victory over Watford on Saturday.

It caps an extremely encouraging first season at the Riverside for the Ivorian, who has scored 18 goals in all competitions, all the more impressive considering he missing a chunk of games at the start of this year.

Carrick admits Latte Lath and his in-form side didn't want the season to end, but he's excited about what the Championship's April Player of the Month can produce next term.

“We’ve hoped and known the potential he had and his strengths and attributes,” said Boro’s head coach of Latte Lath.

“He’s had a really incredible patch in terms of scoring goals and there’s no reason he can’t build on that going into next year.”

When it was put to Carrick that every club wants a striker in such brilliant form, he said: "We're lucky because we've got one."

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Boro ended the season with just one defeat in 12 games to secure an eighth place finish, just four points adrift of the top six. For Carrick and his players, there's disappointment that the campaign has come to a close.

"There is that feeling to be honest," he said.

"The boys are playing as they are and the results they've had, there is an element of that. I'm not sure they'll be thinking that when they're sat on a beach, but it's great to finish the season so well."

Alex Bangura and Isaiah Jones were also on the scoresheet for Boro on Saturday, with the pair striking late to secure the win after Wesley Hoedt had equalised for Watford.

Teessider Law McCabe made his first start for Boro, while James Wilson was a stoppage time substitute less than 24 hours after signing his first professional deal at the club.

Carrick said: “It was near enough the perfect day in many ways. Obviously the corner we let slip was disappointing.

"But we responded to that really well and all in all I think we played well. We attacked well and looked dangerous throughout and obviously scored goals. Big positives, with Law making his first start as well. Getting James on the pitch at the end as well. It’s nice to do that for the academy and give an opportunity for a young player.”