CHUBA Akpom's Middlesbrough contract situation will be addressed in the summer but for now all parties are only focused on what's at stake on the pitch in the huge weeks ahead.

The Championship's top scorer is entering the final 12 months of his deal on Teesside.

In what has been a remarkable season for the former Arsenal man, Akpom has repeatedly told of how he's the happiest he's ever been in his career.

But rather than look to the future, Akpom and head coach Michael Carrick are understandably focused on the here and now as Boro prepare for the coming Championship play-off campaign.

"I don't think about contracts at this time of year with any player, we're nearly there in terms of season ending," said Carrick.

"There's not much to say that hasn't already been said about Chuba. He's found a good place to play his football and you can see by his smile and the way his goals are going in how much he's enjoying his football, it's fantastic to see."

Given that he's just two shy of joining an exclusive Championship club to hit 30 goals in a season, it would be understandable had Akpom pulled Carrick to one side this week and pleaded with him not to be rested for the final day visit of Coventry City as he was at Luton a fortnight ago.

That conversation hasn't taken place, insists Carrick, but the boss is almost certain to name the league's top scorer in his starting XI on Monday. For not only is Carrick well aware of Boro's final day "responsibility", he's also determined to sign off for the play-offs in style.

Akpom didn't add to his goal tally at Rotherham last time out and was left on the bench at Luton but, remarkably, not since the home game against Millwall in mid-January has the 27-year-old failed to score in a game at the Riverside.

Only Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ivan Toney and Glenn Murray have managed to hit 30 goals in a Championship season. Regardless of whether or not Akpom joins that list, it's been a quite brilliant campaign.

He's already won the Championship Player of the Season prize and was this week named Boro's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.

And he'll soon add the Championship Golden Boot to his trophy cabinet. Akpom is seven goals clear of his nearest rival Viktor Gyokeres, who he'll line up against on Monday.

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For Akpom, though, Carrick insists it's not just about the goals.

"To be honest, he hasn't (asked to start against Coventry), but I think for Chuba it’s about more than just the number. It’s about playing well and playing his part in the team being a good team.

"Obviously within that, he’s got his benefits from that with headlines and goals. He’s hungry for more all the time though, as I’ve said before.

"That’s the beauty of Chuba - he’s never really settled with it, whether it was 10,15 or 20 goals... he’s always wanted more. I’m sure he still does too, so hopefully he gets them."

After his double win at Boro's awards this week, Akpom said: "It's an amazing feeling, very overwhelming. I can't really put words together to explain it. It's been such an amazing season and it's still not done. We have the play-offs to go into, so hopefully we can end it on a high."