FOOTBALL seasons can often take unexpected turns. This time last year, Chuba Akpom was leading the line somewhat ineffectually for a Middlesbrough side that were still the best part of a month away from welcoming the arrival of Michael Carrick as head coach. By the time the campaign finished, Akpom was the Championship’s leading goalscorer as a reborn ‘number ten’ and attracting interest from Ajax that would eventually result in a £12m move to the Dutch Eridivisie.

In the early weeks of this season, Josh Coburn was spending his time scouring the websites of estate agents based in Devon. Unable to break into Boro’s first team, and with the Teessiders seemingly intent on bringing in a couple of new centre-forwards, the Bedale-born striker was one the verge of agreeing a season-long loan move to Plymouth Argyle.

Suddenly, things changed. Boro’s transfer business took them in a different direction, the loan discussions were abruptly halted, and Coburn was tasked with fighting his way into Carrick’s first team.

Had Emmanuel Latte Lath hit the ground running following his move Atalanta, perhaps Coburn would still be waiting for an opportunity to prove his worth. Instead, with Latte Lath having failed to make much of impact in the Championship, the 20-year-old was thrust into the starting line-up against Sheffield Wednesday and retained for the subsequent matches against Southampton and Watford.

On Saturday, at Vicarage Road, he scored his first Boro goal since April 2022 to secure a 3-2 win. It was another hugely-significant milestone for the youngster, who finds himself at a point where the next seven months could take him anywhere. Understandably, Carrick does not want to pile too much pressure onto Coburn’s young shoulders. As Akpom’s experiences prove though, once a player gets onto a roll, it can be hard to predict where their momentum will take them.

“Josh has done well,” said Carrick, ahead of this evening’s home game with Cardiff City, which is likely to see Coburn continue his run in the side. “I don’t want to get too carried away, but he’s done fantastic.

“There’s a long way go for him, and we’re not putting anything extra on his shoulders that doesn’t need to be put on, but I think he’s had a couple of really good games within the last week. You can see him growing in terms of his belief and confidence, and you can also see the improvement in his movement and his link-up play.

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“He’s getting to know the boys a bit better and how we play, and that can take a bit of time. We’ll still be patient with Josh. I’m not expecting miracles off him. He’s had a really good week, and he’ll continue to improve as the season goes on. But he’s still at a young age and learning the game. I’m looking forward to seeing where it can take him.”

Carrick did not get chance to work with Coburn last season as his loan move to Bristol Rovers had been agreed by the current head coach’s predecessor, Chris Wilder. His first meaningful encounter with the youngster came at the start of pre-season, so has he been surprised by just how easily he has slipped into his new first-team role?

“I wouldn’t say he’s surprised us,” said the Boro boss. “I think we were hopeful. We knew what type of players Josh was, what his strengths were and the natural attributes that he had, but he’s still growing physically, he’s still developing as a man, really.

“There’s still more to come from him, from that side of things. Technically as well, as he improves and trains all the time with the boys, so he will get to know that side of the game and get better.

“I’ve been pleased with him. Surprised? Not so much, because you always hope and believe in the players, and trust them to do well. It just gives us encouragement for moving forwards with Josh, and the rest of the players, that they’re showing good signs at the moment.”

The Northern Echo: Josh Coburn scores Middlesbrough's winner against WatfordJosh Coburn scores Middlesbrough's winner against Watford (Image: Tom Banks)

Having been presented with an opportunity, Coburn has taken it, showing all of the attacking qualities that were apparent when he burst onto the scene in the 2021-22 season and scored a never-to-be-forgotten goal against Tottenham. The challenge now is to continue progressing, but in terms of his character and desire to learn, the signs could hardly be more positive.

“There’ll be ups and downs along the way, and you never really know how things will work out,” said Carrick. “You give players a chance, but then you have to hope they will take it and thrive. Josh has definitely done that over the last week. He’s done that over recent times since he’s got back fit again, really. That’s what you hope for. He’s definitely done well.”