WHEN Kieran Scott and Middlesbrough's recruitment team sit down to plan ahead of a transfer window, the ultimate aim is to strengthen the squad and improve the chances of success on the pitch.

But going out and making signings isn't the only way to get new first team players - as Boro know only too well.

Stars can also come from within, as Hayden Hackney has shown in the last couple of years, the Teessider following in the footsteps of the likes of Marcus Tavernier, Dael Fry, Ben Gibson, Stewart Downing and countless more homegrown youngsters who have established themselves as major forces in the Boro first team.

And Boro will do everything in their power to ensure they continue to churn out academy success stories. Law McCabe enjoyed an impressive breakthrough last season and George McCormick followed suit in the summer and has been a regular in matchday squads in the early weeks of the current campaign.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Head coach Michael Carrick has handed first team opportunities to several academy youngsters since taking charge two years ago, with Pharrell Willis, Fin Cartwright, Charlie Lennon, Ajay Matthews and James Wilson just some of those to benefit from the head coach's willingness to dip into the academy ranks. Harley Hunt, who only turned 17 in August, joined from Swindon in the summer and has already played for the first team.

Carrick and academy boss Craig Liddle are in regular contact to discuss the young players knocking on the door and who deserves the opportunity to step up and join in first team training. At one stage earlier in the current international break, as many as 10 academy youngsters were involved in a first team training session.

Boro bosses and coaches want to ensure those opportunities continue to present themselves for their most promising youngsters - which is something head of football Scott takes into account when planning the club's recruitment.

"That's a fine balance for me, certainly in my role, to make sure we don't clog up the young lads in the academy," he explained in an interview with the club website.

"We've seen George break through, Law is there, we want to keep that coming through. But at the same time we want to be competitive.

"It's a fine balance and it's the part of my job I spend the most time on. There has to and always will be the pathway to come through but they have to understand the bar has maybe gone up a little bit in terms of the competition for places.

"They'll have to step up as well and if they do I'll encourage for them to get involved as much as possible."