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Crucial goals could earn Britt Assombalonga reprieve at Middlesbrough after nearly leaving on deadline day

Lee Clarke

Mon 4 February 2019 19:15, UK

Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga has been forced to wait patiently this season.

The prolific goalscorer has fallen down the pecking order; with boss Tony Pulis preferring on-loan West Ham man Jordan Hugill in attack.

The 26-year-old was linked with moves to Bristol City and Aston Villa on deadline day,

A move didn’t go through and Pulis will be mightily glad he chose not to cash in.

Assombalonga stepped off the bench at West Brom on Saturday; notching a stunning brace and firing Boro to victory.

The former Forest man has 11 goals to his name this season.

Hugill has seven to his name, but there aren’t too many strikers more lethal when it comes to Assombalonga at Championship level.

Chasing the big time

Boro are just seven points off second place.

Leeds and Sheffield United are up next in the league; meaning that they aren’t completely out of the automatic promotion picture.

Assombalonga is the sort of player that can fire Boro to glory.

A bit of trust from his gaffer would go a long way and his goals at the weekend highlighted his undoubted quality.

After another fruitful outing from the bench, now could represent the right time for Pulis to swallow his pride and reinstate Assombalonga.

During his time at the City Ground, he proved himself as a man for the big occasion and he would relish the chance to play in the forthcoming fixtures that will shape Boro’s season.

The in-form Boro man doesn’t possess the stereotypical attributes of a Pulis striker but he certainly knows where the back of the net is.

Promotion is a must for the club this season and Pulis will be desperate to achieve it and silence his critics.

He can help himself no end by reinstating Assombalonga to the starting line-up and letting him do what he does best.