Middlesbrough’s injury list is mounting, and more and more youngsters are set to be given a chance.
One player who was drafted in for Middlesbrough’s game against Charlton Athletic was right back Djed Spence, and the 19-year old impressed on his league debut.
Throughout the season, Anfernee Dijksteel, Jonny Howson and Ryan Shotton have been utilised on the right side of defence, but with Howson being utilised as a centre-back in recent weeks, and the other two defenders injured, Spence was called up.
“We had to make changes” said Head Coach Jonathan Woodgate in an interview which appears on Middlesbrough’s offical website. “Djed Spence came in and did a fantastic job. Djed’s got that, and Djed can do that.”
“Okay, at times this season we’ve had to sit down and have a few meetings together and tell him what his potential really is” he said.
Woodgate has also suggested that Spence is set to keep his place for their up and coming fixture, as they travel to The City Ground to face Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening.
“But I thought he was exceptional and it’s his place to lose now because of that performance. I thought he was very good.”
The young defender arrived from Fulham last summer, and made his debut for Middlesbrough last August under previous manager Tony Pulis. He came off the bench in the club’s first round penalty shootout win over League Two side Notts County and has since been a regular in the under 23’s set up.