Middlesbrough January fears eased after recruitment team's transfer masterstroke

With the form of Finn Azaz and the excellence of Ben Doak it was suggested after Saturday's victory over Hull City that two-goal match-winner Tommy Conway might have gone under the radar somewhat since arriving at Middlesbrough from Bristol City in the summer.

While Michael Carrick insisted the Scotland international's achievements in a Boro shirt to date had not gone under the radar of anyone within the club, it's fair to say there may not have previously been as much hype about the 22-year-old as some of the other summer signings.

There could be numerous reasons for that. Playing out of position initially to try and accommodate both him and Emmanuel Latte Lath meant he wasn't initially able to show his very best, even if he still made an impressive enough start at the Riverside. Latte Lath's recent return to form and the excellence of other players such as Doak, Azaz and Aidan Morris will have also contributed, as might the consistency and importance of the less-heralded George Edmundson.

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But after two goals in the 3-1 win against Hull City this weekend, everyone has refocused on the young striker and the hugely impressive start he's made at Boro - particularly in the context. His first move in football away from the club he joined as a schoolboy, Conway's move away from home was by no means a short one. Needing to learn a completely new style of play and with a new set of team-mates, Conway has settled at Boro in a way that can be deemed to have exceeded expectations.

Finally stepping into the side in his favoured central striker role as Latte Lath struggled for form, Conway emphatically proved himself as a striker above all else. He's scored six goals in seven games played as a frontman, and after his brace against Hull, he now has eight Boro goals in nine starts. Averaging a goal every 105 minutes he plays currently, he's also the most prolific scorer in the Championship.

It's a remarkable early return for a player who arrived with plenty of Championship experience, but, with the understanding of many of the above factors, on top of Latte Lath's fine form at the end of last season, meaning early expectations of the Scotland international were eased. He's smashed those barriers and then some.

And as we edge ever closer to the January transfer window, and the inevitable interest that Boro's form and individual quality will attract, Conway's start can help to ease one January concern - the potential loss of Latte Lath.

As things stand, Boro's stance on the Ivorian, or any other key player for that matter, remains unchanged from the summer. With a real chance at achieving Premier League promotion this season, Boro are keen to keep their key players. Latte Lath will be considered one of them.

But as he's also returned to goalscoring form in recent weeks, it is of no surprise that fresh Premier League interest in the striker has emerged. West Ham were said to have scouted him as he scored a hat-trick recently at Oxford United, with the Hammers said to be in need of reinforcements at the top end of the pitch. They're unlikely to be alone in their admiration.

Turning down £20 million from Ipswich Town can be seen as a clear signal of intent from Boro as far as their desire to keep key players is concerned. But clearly, that figure cannot be considered far off being one that moves into the territory of unable to turn down. A Championship club not in receipt of parachute payments have to box cleverly when it comes to balancing financial stability and staying competitive.

The hope remains that Boro will be able to hold onto their key players next month, while Latte Lath's agent told Teesside Live last month in an exclusive interview that they won't push for anything and appreciate the club's current stance. With speculation not going away though, Boro's concern can be eased somewhat by Conway's bright start.

While it will be far more beneficial to have both leading their promotion charge, if Boro were to be put in a position where letting Latte Lath go made logical financial sense, they could be safe in the knowledge that they already have a ready-made, proven replacement at the club.

That would make their next step an easier and less-disruptive one. Rather than under pressure to deliver a striker who would be required to hit the ground running, a backup option to Conway would be the focus - with other options such as Delano Burgzorg and Marcus Forss at their disposal too - leaving Boro in a stronger position. Conway has proven himself more than capable.

One thing that might have been considered in such an eventuality might have been recalling Josh Coburn from his loan at Millwall. A fresh injury is likely to keep him out until February though, with his current fitness struggles while on loan at the Den rather proving Boro chiefs right in their decision to let the 21-year-old academy graduate leave on loan in the summer. A Latte Lath replacement would therefore surely have to be sourced externally - either in the form of a permanent signing or a Premier League loan.

First and foremost, Boro's preference and priority will be keeping Latte Lath and really making a push for promotion. As is always the case though, they'll prepare for January in a manner that leaves them ready to react if anything they can't control crops up unexpectedly.

As well as potential Latte Lath interest, the likes of Rav van den Berg and Hayden Hackney could be subject to fresh enquiries, while Morgan Rogers last January proved that you should always expect the unexpected - particularly in the unpredictable and panic-stricken winter window. Liverpool's Doak recall clause is another potentially concerning factor that would prove highly impactful.

As for Latte Lath though, while it would undoubtedly be a blow to lose him, and would weaken Boro's depth in the time it took to replace him, Conway has eased that concern somewhat and made it a less impactful possibility than it otherwise might have been. What a signing he's so far proved to be.