CHRIS WILDER has suggested that Middlesbrough’s failure to make a deadline-day attacking acquisition could improve Matthew Hoppe’s chances of making his mark on the first team in the next few weeks.

When Hoppe joined Boro from Real Mallorca at the start of last month, Wilder described the USA international as a ‘development project’ and suggested he would have to spend time with the Under-23s before progressing to the first-team group.

At that stage, however, the Boro boss envisaged making at least two more attacking signings before the end of the transfer window, but while Rodrigo Muniz arrived on a season-long loan from Fulham, the Brazilian proved to be the only attacker added to the Teessiders’ squad.

As a result, Wilder is having to reassess his options, and while Hoppe is unlikely to start tomorrow’s Tees-Wear derby with Sunderland, the 21-year-old could find himself fast-tracked towards Boro’s first-team group.

Wilder said: “With Chuba (Akpom) being out injured, and Josh (Coburn) obviously being out injured as well, Matthew will possibly come into our thoughts.

“In an ideal situation, we’ve had liked to brought in an extra forward as well as a couple of midfield players – that was the objective. But that didn’t happen, and I haven’t got a crystal ball to see what will happen from this point on. I could lose three players today and we’ll have to shuffle all kinds of things.

“People sometimes get a chance earlier than might be expected. I think, at the club, we’re all understanding that Matthew Hoppe is someone who didn’t play a lot of football last year. He’d obviously shown some signs that there was a player in there for the future, but you never know. Sometimes, you have to get chucked in at the deep end, and we have to run with it.

“Sometimes, out of adversity comes some little gems. I know whatever team we put out for whatever game will be competitive, and if Matt gets his opportunity, then hopefully he takes it and accelerates the situation from the position that we thought he would be in.”