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Middlesbrough teen Carrick rates highly makes emphatic point amid loan frustration

dominic shaw
·3-min read
Middlesbrough's Sonny Finch <i>(Image: Tom Banks)</i>
Middlesbrough's Sonny Finch (Image: Tom Banks)

HIS loan spell at MK Dons might not be going to plan but Sonny Finch offered a reminder of his quality with an excellent hat-trick for Middlesbrough's Under-21s in midweek.

Finch joined the Dons in the summer on a season-long loan but the League Two club have since changed managers, with Scott Lindsey replacing Mike Williamson after his move to Carlisle.

Lindsey insists he "really likes" Finch but the 19-year-old Boro forward hasn't been included in the MK Dons matchday squad in the last five games.

That led to a conversation between Boro and the Dons, with the youngster's parent club keen for him to return to Teesside and play for the Under-21s so he was still benefiting from regular football.

Finch will remain with the Dons as things stand but is allowed to continue to play for Boro's youngsters. And he made quite the impact this week, scoring three of Boro's four goals in the 4-1 win over Halifax Town in the National League Cup. Ajay Matthews, who is in fine form, scored Boro's other goal.

Finch also played for Mark Tinkler's side in the PL2 game against Nottingham Forest earlier this month and has featured in both of Boro's games in the Premier League International Cup against Lyon and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Finch is very highly rated by head coach Michael Carrick, who gave the youngster first team opportunities at the end of his first season in charge when he was only 17.

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Finch's progress was halted by injury last year but he returned to action at the end of last season and quickly rediscovered prolific form in front of goal in the youth ranks.

He played for Boro in the Carabao Cup defeat to Stoke City earlier this season. But having played in that game and for MK Dons, he won't be able to join another club on loan this season.

Boro will continue to monitor Finch's situation and decide whether he's best off returning in January or staying with the League Two club and continuing to feature for his parent club's Under-21s.

Quizzed on Finch at the weekend, MK Dons boss Lindsey said: “Game time at the moment is limited because we've signed Scott Hogan and he's been great, we're got Ellis [Harrison], and we've got Callum Hendry coming back to full fitness as well. It will be difficult for Sonny moving forward, but you never know what is around the corner; there is always an opportunity.

“They [Boro] contacted us last week asking whether he could go back for a week, and we agreed. They mentioned he could get some minutes in a game, and we were fine with that. There is a possibility he does that again this weekend and returns here next week.

“He's done well when he's come on the pitch - he got a goal and an assist at Harrogate - and I think he's been bright. I really like him. He's got got pace and is a threat.”

Carrick believes Finch will benefit from the experience, regardless of how the rest of the loan spell plays out.

He said: "It’s getting the balance right as far as the experience of going out on loan and dealing with the ups and downs of that.

"Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it goes against you, and you’ve got to manage that as a younger player. Just having him back here and getting some game time we felt was important at this time. It’s not called off by any stretch."