Bernie Slaven: Having Carayol for the run-in can only help Boro's promotion push

Seeing Mustapha Carayol get another 90 minutes under his belt against Blackpool this week is a great boost for the Boro.

Especially as he is getting back to full fitness as the season hots up for the vital closing stretch.

Boro have got into a great position in the Championship without Muzzy’s services.

So having him fully fit and ready to go for the run-in can only help our promotion push.

I like Carayol’s style. He has got pace and trickery and scores goals.

Boro certainly won’t be short of wide men when he is back up to full speed and ready for the first team, that’s for sure.

Adomah has been playing on the left, and Reach is a ready-made left winger.

I thought he looked good at Arsenal. He was direct and wasn’t awed by the occasion.

Adam Reach in action against Arsenal

I’m a big believer in playing players in their rightful position and Bamford didn’t get much of a kick against Arsenal.

Neither did a lot of the players, but he didn’t really get a look-in with Fredericks down the right up against Sanchez and Gibbs.

Was I happy when Peter Davenport came to the club and I was moved out to outside left? No.

I was like the world’s loneliest man. I kept my shape and discipline but nobody gave me the ball.

I remember Jock Stein saying a happy player is an effective player.

Is Bamford happy playing on the right rather than up front? Probably not, but I can’t speak for him.

But having Carayol back will also allow Bamford to play up front, where I think he’s most effective.

I know I was most effective up front and when you’re at home where you’re playing, you’re in synch.

But who am I to tell Karanka what to do and where is best to play his players?

Almost everything he has touched so far at the club has turned to gold.

© CameraSport

Middlesbrough's Yanic Wildschut runs at Blackburn's defence

Yanic Wildschut was also part of Boro’s development team against Blackpool and it’s interesting to see the manager taking his time with the Dutch speed merchant.

Wildschut is like a greyhound and got a couple of goals in back-to-back games in November, but his appearances have been fairly limited.

But Karanka picks his team by all accounts on what he sees in training day in, day out, and maybe he hasn’t seen enough yet to pick him on a regular basis.

There is still plenty of time for Wildschut though.

He could be one for the future. He is still only 23.