Credit where it's due for Michael Carrick as Delano Burgzorg enjoys big Middlesbrough moment

Middlesbrough secured back-to-back league wins for just the second time this season as they entered the international break with a really positive platform to really kickstart their season.

Goals from Delano Burgzorg (2), Finn Azaz (2) and Emmanuel Latte Lath secured a resounding victory for Boro, with Michael Carrick's changes paying off. Boro were clinical once again, having put four past QPR on Tuesday evening too.

As they now take a break to refresh ahead of a crucial winter period, we look at the main talking points and conclusions emerging from the big Luton victory.

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Credit where it's due for Michael Carrick

When team news dropped an hour before kick-off it's fair to say there were more than a few eyebrows raised as Carrick made four changes from the side that beat QPR. Anfernee Dijksteel coming in for Neto Borges was enforced, while Hayden Hackney's return was expected after Jonny Howson played more minutes than intended in the two previous games because of Hackney's red and suspension.

But the two attacking changes were less expected as Boro seek consistency and finally found a clinical edge at Loftus Road. While there was an element of injury-prevention in taking Riley McGree and Tommy Conway out having recently returned from injury, Carrick revealed after there was tactical reasoning too.

With Luton going man for man, Carrick brought in Delano Burgzorg for his individualism and unpredictability, while Latte Lath's explosive pace and running off the last shoulder was hoped to be an asset. To say there were some extreme reactions on social media before the game would be an understatement.

But credit where it's due, Carrick got his call spot on, and the pair - more so Burgzorg, with Latte Lath not really having anything to prove - rewarded Carrick's faith in them. Latte Lath scored one and assisted one, while Burgzorg scored twice. It highlights how important a good squad can be, with competition for places driving up standards and hunger to impress when given opportunities.

Big day for Delano Burgzorg

As noted above, the question marks over the Conway-Latte Lath change weren't a slight on the Ivorian, and more just appreciation for how good Conway has been of late. But that wasn't the case with the other change, because it's not unfair to say Burgzorg has underwhelmed since joining Boro from Metz this summer.

There have been some moments of quality and promise from the Dutchman, but largely he's struggled to make as big an impact as he'd like - often when used from the bench as a centre-forward. But starting from the left in this one, he looked far more comfortable and made a big impact on the game.

The 26-year-old appears to be that kind of player who can blow hot and cold from time to time, but this felt like a big moment for him, as well as Boro. With plenty of solid attacking options, Burgzorg can offer that bit of unpredictability that Boro's attack otherwise lacks. But with little end product before the Luton game, he'd have been in danger of losing his place in the squad as more and more options return and become available to Carrick. This was a reminder that he can still play a big role for Boro this season.

Dael Fry's return and potential route back into the side

Speaking of options, Carrick has a new one in defence. It was great to see Dael Fry back in action. He came on for the final 15 minutes of Saturday's win. It was his first competitive appearance since February, with the Teessider suffering some setbacks on his road to recovery.

Finally back in contention though, Fry will be hoping he can build from this big step to regain his place in Carrick's side, having been pretty much a guaranteed starter pre-injury. In his absence, however, Rav van den Berg has established himself as a star, while Matt Clarke has been in fine form since returning from his own serious injury last year, while George Edmundson has proven an astute signing.

But there is perhaps a route for Fry to get himself back in the side, if Clarke is not careful. Since returning from a small muscle injury last month, Clarke hasn't quite refound the levels he'd been hitting pre-injury.

In general, Clarke continues to carry out the defensive side of his requirements with class. But we know there is just as much emphasis on what the defenders do with the ball for Carrick, and in that regard, Clarke has been a little sluggish of late.

Particularly culpable at QPR as Boro threatened to lose control of the game in the second half, he was then guilty of a couple of slack balls against Luton as well - one which almost gifted them a good opportunity just before Boro's opener, and another which did result in Luton scoring a consolation. It's something he'll have to sharpen up as Fry will no doubt push hard in the weeks ahead to regain his starting spot.