HAVING watched Richie Smallwood break into the Middlesbrough first-team, Tony Mowbray believes the 20-year-old has the potential to become a key figure for his side in the coming years.

Smallwood spent the majority of the season on the fringes of the Boro first-team, but after impressing the Boro boss he was handed six consecutive starts as the Championship season drew to a close.

In that time, the Boro academy product has shown he has the ability and mentality to become a key part of the club's future, particularly his excellent display in the win at Cardiff City against one of the best midfields in the Championship.

That game also saw Smallwood score his first senior goal, highlighting the fact he can be an attacking midfielder as well as a combative force in the middle of the park.

Mowbray admits it was Smallwood's attitude and work rate in training that persuaded him to give the 20-year-old an opportunity and believes the midfielder will continue to improve the more he plays.

"Sometimes you get an opportunity, Richie was put in the team because of the way he trains and the way he works," Mowbray said.

"He has grown into the job really. The more Richie plays the better he's going to become, the more confident he'll become.

"Great credit to him that he's taken on the mantle of playing in the busiest part of any football team in the middle of the midfield and he's been very competitive.

"He popped up and scored a big goal in a big game and looked as though he's played there for a long time."

Now Smallwood has broken into Mowbray's first-team plans, the 20-year-old will hope he is in contention when next season's Championship gets underway in August.

But with the likes of Kevin Thomson, Barry Robson and Nicky Bailey all impressing in central roles this season, the 20-year-old will have some competition if he wants to keep his place.

Mowbray insists Smallwood can compete with his more experienced midfielders and admits if he continues to impress the way he has, the 20-year-old could become an integral part of his plans.

"I would hope in my mind he does continue to improve," the Boro boss said.

"As we move on competition in central midfield is going to be very strong, Kevin Thomson showed he's starting to get back to some levels of fitness and his quality and craft was there for us all to see.

"Ultimately Richie is going to have to stay at the top of his game to ensure that he is competitive to play in that area.

"He's shown he can compete with the best. He's stepped up to the mark against some very high quality midfield players and yet Richie was in amongst them all and scored a goal.

"His performances will dictate over the coming seasons how much football he plays but if he stays at the standard he's been playing at the moment then he'll have no fears."