AN awful lot can change in football in the space of a few months.

When Middlesbrough returned for pre-season training in the summer, Chris Wilder made the decision to have Chuba Akpom training with the Under-21s. The striker's days on Teesside looked numbered.

Come the start of October, with Akpom returning to the side after a couple of months out injured, and Wilder was telling of his delight at having such an "important" player available again.

Wilder claimed his decision to have Akpom training with the youngsters was two-fold: he wanted to "test" the striker and also wanted to check on his conditioning after his loan spell in Greece.

Akpom has since admitted that at that stage he was waiting for a call from his agent to tell him which club he'd be joining. He didn't expect to play another minute for Boro.

At that stage, with Akpom training with the youngsters, he started a diary. In it, he wrote: "Wherever I go next, it needs to be my season".

And here we are, eight months later, with Akpom enjoying the most remarkable - and given what had gone before - unlikely record-breaking campaign on Teesside.

He's already become the first Boro striker since Bernie Slaven in 1989/90 to hit 20 league goals in a season. He's on 24 now and with 11 in his last 10 outings, you'd be brave to bet against him hitting 30. That's a tally only ever reached by three players in the history of the Championship: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ivan Toney and Glen Murray.

So how has he done it? What's the story behind Akpom's transformation from fringe figure destined for the Boro exit to the most lethal marksman in the second tier?

"It's difficult for me to speak about the turnaround because I don't know how he was playing before that before I came through the door," said Michael Carrick.

Well, as Wilder's comments above about Akpom's importance suggest, the former Arsenal striker had enjoyed an eye-catching start to the season, coming in from the cold to score a brace against Sheffield United before being sidelined by injury. But since Carrick's appointment, Akpom has soared to another level. He's scored 21 goals in 23 appearances since the arrival of the head coach.

"With the last two managers before Michael, they made it pretty clear he wasn't part of the plans," said Boro legend Stewart Downing last week, when quizzed on Akpom's transformation.

"I asked Michael, I said 'what have you said, what have you done?' He said, 'not a lot, just put an arm around him, told him I thought he could play in different positions and told him he has a run of games and it's up to him to prove the talent he thinks he has'. Sometimes as a player that's all you need, an arm around you. I was certainly that type of player."

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It's typical of Carrick to downplay his own role, but the position change has been nothing short of a masterstroke. Akpom recently revealed that he's always seen himself as more of a No.10 but has been told by several managers he's a No.9 who should be leading the line. When Carrick told Akpom his positional plans, it was music to the ears of the forward.

"I think you go on your eye, your instincts, how well he takes the ball, how fluid he is moving with the ball in a bit of space," said Carrick, explaining what it was that made him think Akpom would thrive in the deeper role.

"Technically coming through the ranks at Arsenal he's had that foundation. I just wanted to free him up a little bit and play to his strengths. Thankfully he's been able to do that. I think it suits him."

It's helped Akpom, of course, to have the league's best goal creator teeing up chances for him. Ryan Giles has enjoyed an outstanding season on loan from Wolves and Akpom has dedicated countless hours to studying the left wing-back's game to make the most of Boro's left-sided weapon.

And that isn't the only homework Akpom has been done.

"I watch the elite players and how they do things now, like Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane," said Akpom earlier this season.

"I also watch the strikers from back in the day. There's a show called 'Premier League 100 Club' on Sky. I've got them all on repeat and I just sit there watching how the top players do it now and in the past. I'm just obsessed with watching football.

"I loved watching Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Thierry Henry. Those were my two idols growing up. Then the likes of Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba. I'd love to emulate the things they could do. Having that obsession off the pitch and trying to get better has helped massively."

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Akpom's dedication to improve has impressed - but not surprised - Carrick.

"I think he’s just saying that to please me," laughed the boss.

"No, joking aside, it doesn’t surprise me at all, knowing Chuba and how he is with his personality and his willingness and attitude in training to working hard and improving.

"There are all sorts of different ways you can do that. It’s not only on the pitch, there are clips you can watch and analyse opponents, good players in your position, players who you play with and working on a wavelength.

"It’s unspoken about at times, but actually having an understanding like that with another player is something you might not always see with the eye. But when players can develop a good relationship and understand each other, that can go a long way. The more they can work on that and feed off that, the better."

Throughout the season, Carrick has repeatedly been asked about Akpom's contract situation but Boro are calm about the forward's position. They activated a year-long extension to a deal that was initially due to expire this summer.

At Boro, Akpom feels "loved" and at home, which, after countless loan spells, is all he's ever wanted.

"He's chirpy, he's happy, he feels comfortable here," said Carrick.

"He's enjoying his football. I think you can see that in any player. Shoulders back, chest out, confident - it's great to see. I've really enjoyed working with him and there's so much more to come which is really encouraging."