WHEN Harry Chapman beat one defender near the touchline with a couple of stepovers, darted towards the byline after rounding a second Torino player before delicately lifting the ball over the goalkeeper with an incredible finish at the Riverside Stadium last week, more people suddenly sat up and took notice of Middlesbrough’s rising talent.

Footage of his wonderful effort in the UEFA Youth League, following on from an earlier assist during the 3-0 first leg win over the Italian club, has since gone round the world via social media and got Boro fans purring over his performance.

Chapman has been tearing up academy defences for a number of years now, so the quality he showed that night did not arrive as a surprise to those – like coaches Craig Liddle and Mark Tinkler, as well as academy director Dave Parnaby - who have nurtured him through the ranks since Ron Bone, the outgoing head of junior recruitment, and his team spotted the talent a decade ago.

VIDEO: Watch Harry Chapman's wonder goal from 4m48s

Even Aitor Karanka, the Middlesbrough head coach, has witnessed at first hand what the young forward is capable of, which is why he handed him an appearance in the first team during a summer pre-season friendly at York City.

Since that day, though, he has been back with the Under-21s and 19s, displaying the sort of ability which has caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs and Karanka, but the teenager has had to wait for a competitive first team debut.

The Middlesbrough boss, who did pit Chapman’s highly-rated defensive team-mate Dael Fry in for one Championship outing on the opening day of the campaign, is aware of the growing calls for Chapman’s inclusion in a Championship squad. He does not, though, want to throw the Seaton Carew starlet in too often, too soon.

“I know how important the young players are to the people at this club,” said Karanka. “The thing I don’t want to do is to make a mistake with one kid. I don’t want to put him in the squad, or on the pitch, and then forget him one or two weeks later; like I did with Dael Fry at the beginning of the season.

“I played Dael because I trust the young players, but I have to give them the opportunity at the right moment. They are playing in the Under-21s and the Under-19s. It’s a very big experience to play in the international games like they are in the UEFA Youth League.”

Middlesbrough are renowned over the years for giving youth its chance. As well as players such as Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson, Lee Cattermole and James Morrison being thrown in during their teenage years, more recently the likes of Luke Williams, Bryn Morris and Fry have had opportunities.

Chapman, if he continues to develop like he is and continues to work hard at a younger level, seems certain to be one more heading for a first team chance and Karanka is keeping a close eye on his progress – particularly after his two goals and five assists in Europe.

Karanka, knowing Callum Cooke also has three goals in the Youth League from midfield for Boro, said: “To improve Harry needs to mature. He has everything to play in the first team squad but we have to take the right steps. He has trained with us. I know them all.

“I watched the UEFA Youth League games. I know all of the players who are playing. Three or four of them have trained with us from the academy, so it’s good to see them playing as they are and developing.”

Middlesbrough’s Under-19s will head to Turin for the second leg with Torino on November 25, with Liddle and Tinkler’s team aiming to secure a place in the group stage.

The talented crop of youngsters have really caught the eye and it is hoped that the club’s excitement of playing in such a prestigious competition will be followed by promotion to the Premier League for the first team.

Last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Hull has left Karanka’s team four points adrift of the Tigers at the top of the division before a return to action at home to Queens Park Rangers a week today.

It is hoped that Fernando Amorebieta will be available to face QPR after withdrawing from the Venezuela squad to take part in World Cup qualifiers with Bolivia and Ecuador.

Middlesbrough are receiving updates on the fitness of Cristhian Stuani, who is with the Uruguay squad despite concerns over his fitness. He was an unused sub against Ecuador last night.