Samuel Iling-Junior is a bit of an unknown quantity for Middlesbrough in the second half of the season - though Michael Carrick believes that can be his biggest strength and to Boro’s advantage.

Such a versatile player capable of playing numerous roles from left-back to either wing, the Aston Villa loanee admits he doesn’t even know yet what his best role is. He’s only 21 and still has plenty of time to learn.

But time is not on Boro’s side. They have Iling-Junior for only the rest of this season and, with just 16 games of the regular season remaining, they are hoping the former Juventus star can help inspire improved form to fire them into the play-offs this season. Having played Champions League football at both Juve in the past and Bologna this season (he scored against Dortmund just two weeks before his Boro switch), Carrick is sure Boro have a gem on their hands.

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“He’s so versatile, and for someone so young, he’s had an incredible experience for the clubs he’s been at and the type of games he’s played,” the Boro boss assessed. “Then you consider his positional capabilities - he can do anything from left-back to right wing and left wing with the same quality and without being fazed - it’s a hell of a skill and attribute to be able to do that, and highlights his quality.

“But, he’s an attacking player. He can go both ways - off his left and off his right - he wants to commit and wants to be positive. He’s a really exciting player with a really good head on his shoulders; so switched on and so stable. His attitude has been top class and he’s looking forward to coming here and finishing the season with us.”

Along with Kelechi Iheanacho, Iling-Junior’s arrival late in the January transfer window took Boro up to five loan players for the season. That’s despite previous notions from club chiefs that they wanted to avoid an over-reliance on loan players after the complications of the summer of 2023 when among others, Boro lost two highly influential Villa loanees in Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey.

But in assessing why they felt it right to bring Iling-Junior to Teesside this month, it was this season’s capture of Liverpool prospect Ben Doak that drew the bigger comparison.

“I think it’s similar [to the Ben Doak opportunity],” Carrick said. “There are different ways and reasons for using the loan system. We’ve spoken previously about what we feel might be right and what’s not. Certain opportunities come along that just fits and you feel you have to take them.

“For Sammy too, I think it’s a really good fit. He was desperate to come and play for us and take the next step in his career. For us to have him is fantastic - he was playing Champions League and doing very well just two or three weeks ago. So to have him here around the group is a great boost for us.”

As far as Boro’s other use of the loan system this season is concerned, Mark Travers was a signing of circumstance after long-term injuries suffered by Sol Brynn and Seny Dieng. Again, Carrick described that one as an opportunity too good to pass up given Travers’ pedigree.

As for Ryan Giles and Iheanacho, they’re short-term deals in the first place, and although they have no transfer options attached to them - largely due to Boro negotiating favourable terms in the chunk of wages they pay both players - there’s a feeling that, should all go well, both could still be available for permanent moves in the summer, albeit while also having the protection of a bigger market to target alternatives should they need to.