Tony Mowbray is ready to hand a debut to Middlesbrough's latest academy product Cameron Park.
Boro boss to hand debut to winger
Tony Mowbray is ready to hand a debut to Middlesbrough's latest academy product Cameron Park.
The 18-year-old winger was set to make his first start at the weekend, but because of the wintry conditions, Boro boss Mowbray kept him on the bench.
But the Boro boss is set to unleash the club's latest home-grown starlet following his consideration for the 2-2 draw with Hull City.
"It's fair to say he's a talent," said Mowbray.
"I had Cameron on the bench and I was going to give him his debut.
"He's a dribbler, somebody who beats players, but the conditions weren't really suitable for a player who travels with the ball.
"Has he caught my eye? I think his talent catches anybody's eye when they watch a football match and yet I don't want to build him up and put any extra pressure on him.
"He's just a young boy who is in the mould of some pretty good players who have come through the ranks at this club over the years.
"He has to develop, he has to find a maturity as a lad and we have to find the right opportunities to dip him in and dip him out until we think he's ready to impact on the team.
"But he has undoubted talent and exciting talent. We'll find the right time to utilise that I hope."
Left-siders
Boro have a proud history of producing high-class left wingers, with Stewart Downing, Chris Brunt and Adam Johnson all coming through the ranks in the last few years.
First-team coach Mark Proctor, who was the club's youth coach, thinks Park has a big future ahead of him.
"In Cameron Park we have a wonderful young player. We seem to produce these left-siders - Adam Johnson, Chris Brunt, Stewart Downing, that's not a bad trio of lefties is it?" said Proctor.
"The critical thing with a young player is they go in the team in the right circumstances so that they are ready to go in and they are ready to deal with the environment and challenge ahead."
