AFTER a difficult first year in
England, striker Tuncay Sanli
has been backed by Luke Young
to make a bigger impression on
the Premier League next season.
Tuncay has shown glimpses of
the form that made him one of
the most exciting players in
Turkish football but, playing as a
striker and a right midfielder, the
26-year-old has taken time to find
his feet in England.
He has scored eight times this
season and Young believes Tuncay
offers the Boro forward line
another dimension.
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"He gives us something different,"
said Young. "Afonso (Alves)
and Jeremie (Aliadiere) are quick
enough to get behind defences
but Tuncay drops a bit deeper
and works his way around the defence.
He has great technical
ability."
Young, who has enjoyed an excellent
first season at the Riverside
Stadium, last night likened
Tuncay to Spurs striker Dimitar
Berbatov and believes the Middlesbrough
forward will improve
his scoring record next season.
"He has eight goals and I'm
sure he will get a few more next
season," said Young. "He has a
natural ability. It's effortless.
He's a bit like Berbatov at times,
casual on the ball. He has great
technique and it's no wonder the
Turkish fans love him."
Tuncay has also made a big impression
on Middlesbrough fans,
despite what has been a frustrating
season for Southgate's side.
While the striker may not have
scored many goals for Boro,
Young revealed the striker is
more than happy with life at the
Riverside Stadium.
"He always has a smile on his
face. He enjoys playing football
and he has been a good character
for us," said Young.
"I think he has enjoyed his first
season here. He would have liked
us to have been higher in the
league, as would we all, but he
has settled well."
Tuncay scored his second goal
in as many games in Saturday's
2-0 win over Portsmouth, which
ensured Middlesbrough's Premier
League safety.
With Tuncay hitting form and
Afonso Alves beginning to acclimatise
to the English game,
winger Stewart Downing is confident
Boro can overcome the
goalscoring problems that have
hampered their progress this season.
"Tuncay went through a tough
period but he's on fire now and I
hope he can start setting me up
for a change," joked Downing.
"Every club needs competition
for striking places but we haven't
really had that in the past.
"Next season, with those two
together (Tuncay and Alves),
with Mido and Jeremie
(Aliadiere), that will definitely
not be the case."
Despite a season of underachievement,
Downing is confident
there are good times ahead
for his hometown club, as he
demonstrated by signing a fiveyear
deal in February.
The Pallister Park-born
winger, linked with a January
move to Tottenham, has revealed
how confidence in the Boro camp
was low.
But the 23-year-old has paid
tribute to the way his team-mates
have responded in recent weeks
to ensure a tenth consecutive
season in the English top-flight.
"It's definitely been a testing
season," admitted the England
international. "It's not nice when
you lose two or three times on the
trot - that doesn't breed much
confidence.
"I think the lads have done ever
so well sticking in there. We've
dug deep and got some good results.
"Saturday's was a big game but
we should never have put ourselves
in that dangerous position.
There have been plenty of
games which we should have
won, especially at home.
"But we were in that situation
for a reason and I'm just glad
we're out of it."
Downing has also praised the
character of Chris Riggott, who
marked his return to the club
with Boro's first goal in the win
over Portsmouth.
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