MIDDLESBROUGH are set to keep striker Chuba Akpom beyond this month’s transfer deadline with his performances continuing to impress manager Chris Wilder.

Having been initially frozen out of the first-team picture and tasked with finding a new club for this season, Akpom has been brought back into the fold for the league season amid Boro’s lack of depth in attacking options.

He started the opening game of the season and provided the assist for Isaiah Jones’ goal in a 1-1 draw against West Brom and also impressed in the weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Queens Park Rangers coming on as a second half substitute and playing a starring role in their fightback in the game.

Describing his display at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, Wilder said: “Outstanding. I thought he was really good.

“If that is the positive over the last two or three weeks, it’s a positive worth taking.

“I thought he was excellent. He might be a little disappointed the keeper has made a magnificent save. You saw what he gave us in the second half. We had somebody to build and play off and he contributed to a much better second half performance.”

After spending last season on loan at Greek side PAOK, Akpom’s future look destined to be away from Teesside but having impressed Wilder and the coaching staff, the manager has hinted that he will be remaining in his side and it’s not a shop window opportunity for the 26-year-old.

“He’s part of the group so as far as I am concerned, he is part of the group until I am told otherwise” continued Wilder.

“You can go and ask the boy if he is enjoying but you’ve seen through his performances. When he came on for half an hour against Marseille and when he has played second half today.

“He enjoys the way we play and we enjoy working with him so fingers crossed it is one less thing that we need to do.”

While Akpom’s revival has been a big bonus in the opening stages of the season, Boro still feel light in attacking options as the former Arsenal frontman works his way up to full fitness having missed most of pre-season.

Boro received a significant blow in midweek with the news that Josh Coburn could spend the next two months out of action due to a knee injury. The 19-year-old was set for a loan spell away from the club to continue his development but he is expected to stay on Teesside to begin his recovery.

Meanwhile, new signing Marcus Forss got off the mark at the weekend while Duncan Watmore started the game but the pair are also working their way up to full fitness like Akpom.

He added: “We had a centre forward on the pitch who held it up and gave us a focal point to go into. Marcus Forss run out of gas which I would have expected him to do.

“Chuba couldn’t start so he only had 45 minutes max in him, Duncan is the same situation. We are obviously light in bodies at the top of the pitch.

“Pre-season objectives, we’ve ticked a lot of the boxes but we’re still miles off.

“People that commentate on the Championship are putting us up there maybe because of historical things which I’ve said. The size of the club, what we’ve done in the past, the big crowds or what the manager has done in the past.

“Where we are as a group, we understand as a group inside and out that there is still an awful lot of work to do for us to be even talked in the same breath as a Sheff United, West Brom, Norwich, Watford, Burnley. They are tipped to be up there.”

Boro are expecting the imminent arrival of Matthew Hoppe after agreeing a deal with La Liga side RCD Mallorca before the weekend.

The 21-year-old American is set to complete a permanent move to Teesside and attacking options to Chris Wilder’s squad.