MICHAEL Carrick identified the prospect of using Tommy Conway as a No.10 for Middlesbrough before his summer arrival and spoke to the forward about it during transfer negotiations.

Conway played as a striker for Bristol City but has mostly been used in a deeper No.10 role for Boro so far.

He impressed in that position against Preston on Saturday in what was his first Riverside start, scoring the opening goal that should have set Boro on their way to victory against North End.

Carrick has previous when it comes to tinkering with the role of forwards, with Chuba Akpom the most notable example. The former Arsenal forward had struggled as a striker on Teesside but was a revelation when he was moved by Carrick to play No.10, winning the Championship's Player of the Season and Golden Boot awards before leaving for Ajax in the summer of 2023.

Whereas Akpom had previously failed to impress as a striker, Conway arrived at Boro on the back of two impressive season as a centre-forward at Bristol City - but the 22-year-old's versatility excites Carrick.

"Tommy is a good player and can adapt and play different roles," he said.

"I’ve spoken to him about that as he signed. The way he’s getting into box from different positions and getting different shooting opportunities is good.

"He’s clever around that position. It doesn’t have to be that position, but it’s certainly one he can play.

"I thought he looked dangerous throughout (against Preston) and the more he plays it, the more he plays with the other lads, I’m sure he’ll get even better."

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Conway has made a bright start at Boro, scoring from the bench to rescue a point against Portsmouth and quickly nailing down a place in Carrick's XI.

Carrick was frustrated to only draw against Preston at the weekend but thrilled with the display of Conway, who held his nerve and finished confidently when he was set away by Luke Ayling for the opener.

He said: “I was really pleased for him. It was a terrific finish. It was a position we were trying to get him in to stretch their backline and get the space in behind.

"It worked well in that moment and a couple of other moments and he took it really well. You could see his composure.

"It was one of them where, as he was going through, I always felt he would score. He had that composure about him and showed he can finish because he’s a goalscorer. He showed that there."

Conway and Emmanuel Latte Lath started together for the first time against North End and Carrick has an abundance of exciting attacking options.

He said: That's something that as we go on that connection, the lads will understand each other a bit more.

"The signs are good. We're creating enough, we're getting in and around the box against teams in every game we've played. It's just finding that extra little bit."