THANKS to a much greater emphasis on the importance of statistical analysis, you can get a breakdown of pretty much anything that happens on a football field nowadays.

Sometimes, the results are as you would expect. Most shots per game in Europe’s top five divisions this season? Cristiano Ronaldo. Most passes? Paris St Germain’s Thiago Motta. The player who is on the receiving end of the most fouls? Neymar.

But what about the identity of the person who completes the most dribbles? It’s no surprise to see Chelsea’s Eden Hazard in the top five. Similarly, if you’ve seen any of Barcelona’s matches this season, you won’t be shocked to see Neymar in second position.

But top of the pile? Middlesbrough’s Adama Traore. On average, Traore completes six dribbles in the opposition half per game, more than anyone else in Europe’s leading leagues. Having been crying out for some attacking inspiration in the first few months of the season, it is surely no coincidence that the 20-year-old’s elevation to Boro’s starting line-up has coincided with the club’s best run of the campaign.

“People tell me, ‘You are second or first in dribbling’, and that is nice to hear,” said Traore, who joined Boro in a deadline-day move from Aston Villa. “They say, ‘You do the most dribbling of anyone’, but it’s best when after dribbling, I cross, pass or score.

“It’s important for my place that I do these things. If I don’t do them, the dribbling is pointless. It’s important to cross or score at the end of it.

“Of course, I know my qualities. If I can get past one player, and a team-mate can shoot or score, it’s good for the team. But I’m working so hard on everything because I know there is still a lot I have to improve.”

Traore’s dribbling highlights a high level of technical ability, but is also reflective of the youngster’s raw pace. Back to the statistics, and Premier League data shows the winger was the fastest player in the whole of the league when he played at Arsenal last month.

He was tracked at almost 35mph running with the ball at his feet – Usain Bolt only managed 44mph when he set his world record for the 100m - and is confident he could go significantly quicker if he was to time himself sprinting on a track.

Little wonder opposition defenders are wary of him, and while Aitor Karanka is understandably keen to work on the less-refined elements of his game, raw speed remains a hugely valuable asset when defences are so well drilled.

“I think maybe in the world there is a player quicker than me - but maybe I’m the fastest,” laughed Traore. “Maybe there is no player faster than me in the world. But, again, it’s only good when you do crossing or shooting at the end.

“I’ve never really timed myself, but with the ball I know I do 37 kmph - I don’t know about without the ball. I don’t know this because my job is to play football – I’m not an athlete. I work hard on my technique, maybe it makes me faster, I don’t know, but I’m working for my team.”

That acknowledgment that raw talent is insufficient to ensure success was drilled into Traore from a young age. Born in Spain, to Malian parents, he joined Barcelona’s youth set-up at the age of eight and spent the best part of a decade progressing through what is widely regarded as the best academy system in the world.

By the time he was 17, he was coming off the bench to make his La Liga debut, and a couple of weeks later, he replaced Cesc Fabregas to make his first appearance in the Champions League.

At the time, he was training with Barcelona’s first-team squad, and while Lionel Messi’s technical brilliance held him spellbound, it was the five-time World Player of the Year’s work ethic that most impressed the youngsters who were in awe of him.

“I saw Messi in training, and he worked hard all the time,” said Traore.  “People will say, ‘You have this game coming up and it will be easy for you, they are not a good team’. But he doesn’t care, he works hard all the time.

“Maybe he could get away with not trying 100 per cent because he is the best player in the world. But he’s the first person at training. He was very good to watch and learn off because he is very professional.

“Sometimes, a lot of players in his position would relax. But he is the best player, he has won the Ballon d’Or five times because of how he works. I need to learn from this.”

Having left Barcelona in the summer of 2015, Traore’s career stagnated as he was unable to break into an Aston Villa side that was eventually relegated from the top-flight.

“When I came to Aston Villa, they had struggled for two years before then,” he said. “I came and the team wasn’t winning games at the start of the season.

“Tim Sherwood wasn’t winning, but it was difficult for me because I came from the second division in Spain and needed a little time in the Premier League to see what the league was like and adapt to the different tactics and style of play.

“But Tim Sherwood needed to win. He didn’t have time to worry about a player coming from the second division in Spain, the only objective for him was needing to win because the team wasn’t doing well.”

Boro came calling in August, and after initially struggling to force his way into Karanka’s plans, Traore is now an integral part of the Teessiders’ tactical set-up.

“We are playing well and have had some good games recently,” he said, ahead of this evening’s game with Hull. “I am learning a lot and that is important.”