Middlesbrough striker Patrick Bamford craves central role to bolster promotion push

Patrick Bamford would love to be Boro’s central striker - but says he’s prepared to sacrifice that preference for the greater good.

The Chelsea loanee has found himself in an unfamiliar role on the right wing in recent weeks, playing on the flank against Manchester City, Brentford and Charlton.

Impressed with his application out wide, Aitor Karanka again asked Bamford to play on the right at Arsenal - but the 21-year-old endured a disappointing afternoon at the Emirates.

Bamford revealed he would prefer to play up front, but is happy to put that to one side if it helps Boro’s promotion push.

“Playing on the right isn’t a role I prefer but sometimes you’ve got to do your job for the team,” Bamford said.

“It’s something I’m a bit foreign to, and defensive duties come a bit harder to me.

“It’s one of those things I’ll have to learn if that’s where the gaffer wants to use me, but I’d prefer to be up front.”

Despite playing out of position, Bamford has enjoyed a purple patch in front of goal having found the net three times in his last five appearances.

Bamford clinched his 11th goal of the season against Charlton and has become a vital part of Karanka’s side since arriving from Stamford Bridge last summer.

The England Under-21s star admitted he has set himself goalscoring targets on Teesside, but may have to adjust them if he continues to be selected on the wing.

“I’m loving it here and fortunately I’ve been scoring goals, even though I’ve been playing out of position,” he added.

“Thankfully I’ve had a nack of scoring wherever I’ve played, so imagine what I could do if I played up front all the time.

“At the start of the season, as a striker, I set a lot of targets. But depending on where I play, I have to alter them a bit.”

Bamford says Boro didn’t do themselves justice at the Emirates, but with games against Birmingham, Leeds, Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday still to come this month, there are plenty of opportunities to make amends.

“I think every game in the Championship is hard but every game is winnable,” Bamford said.

“It’s about being consistent. Sometimes you can perform against the big teams that are in around you, but then you can slip up against the lower position teams.

“That’s what can hurt you when you’re challenging for promotion.”