MICHAEL Carrick admits he's not sure what the future holds for his star loanee Cameron Archer, as Unai Emery talked up the importance of the striker's Boro spell and said Aston Villa will make a decision on the frontman in the summer.

Archer has been outstanding for Boro since arriving on loan early in the January window, scoring nine goals including five in his last six.

Having spent the second half of last season at Preston and now shining at Boro in his second loan spell, Villa have a decision to make on Archer in the summer.

He's only 21 so the striker has time on his hands but Unai Emery and his coaching staff plan to have a close look at Archer in pre-season before deciding whether he will be part of the Villa first team next season. If not, they must determine whether another loan spell will be beneficial or whether to cash in on the young striker.

If Villa do decide another loan spell is the right course of action, it's likely to be at a higher level than the Championship after twice proving his class in the second tier. And if they do consider selling the striker, he'll command a significant fee given he's an England Under-21 international.

Asked, then, whether Boro need to go up to stand any chance of keeping the striker in the summer, Carrick said: "I don't know. At this moment in time I'm not sure.

"It's never straight forward anyway, especially with younger players at that age. Loans, permanents, leagues, there's a lot to fall into place, we'll just have to assess that as and when we get to the summer."

Decisions on the future will wait until the summer. For now, both Boro and Villa are delighted with the way Archer's loan spell is playing out.

Villa boss Emery said this week: "The plan was to play in the Championship every week, or three matches a week. In the Championship they play a lot of matches and get experience and get minutes and try to expose him with his best performances.

"This is very good for him, very good for us as well as a club, and at the end of the season of course we are going to decide (what happens next). As well, all the players that are out on loan. It is not only him, (Aaron) Ramsey as well is playing very well.

"There are other players out on loan that we have been following and we have analysed each one and take decisions for the next months."

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Boro were quick off the mark to sign Archer in the January window and it's proved to be an outstanding bit of business, with the striker adding another dimension to the best attack in the Championship.

Carrick said: "Cam has done great. He's fitted in really well in and around the group, as all the boys have.

"He loves scoring goals, you can see that. He loves his finishing and shooting, he loves scoring goals. On top of that he's unselfish with the way he plays with his movements and bringing other players into play. That's been the beauty of our forward players, spreading the joy if you like.

"Chuba is getting a lot of goals, Cam is doing well, Marcus is scoring goals, AJ and Riley are chipping in.

"There needs to be that selfish greedy streak to a point but you also need to play for each other and the boys have got a really good balance."

Preston boss Ryan Lowe was desperate to sign Archer in January after the striker made a big impression at North End last season, but Boro won the battle for the striker and are benefiting from his spell at Deepdale and the fact he arrived with Championship experience.

"It (the division) wasn't fresh or new to him, experience is important. Sometimes it's good experience, sometimes it's a little bit tougher to deal with at the time," said Carrick.

"Experience is beneficial and certainly he had the success last season and he was desperate to build on that. We gave him that platform."

Asked whether Archer was the best signing made in the Championship in January, Carrick laughed: "What about AJ (Ramsey).

"I'm only joking. It's not for me to say. We were delighted. We were delighted with Dan (Barlaser), AJ and Cam.

"We're happy to have them, I'll let everyone else judge whether he was the best or not."