Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom says Michael Carrick is the manager he’s been dreaming of his entire career after setting a new goalscoring record in the Championship on Wednesday evening.
The former Arsenal forward scored Middlesbrough’s third in their 3-1 victory at home to Hull City, a result which moves the club closer to a place in the Championship play-offs.
Akpom found the net for a ninth consecutive Championship home game in a row – a new record for the division – and speaking after the game, the 27-year-old paid tribute to Carrick, who has overseen a drastic improvement since taking charge of Boro last October.
‘I’m enjoying it, I’m just playing with a smile on my face, I can’t complain, I’m loving it at the moment,’ Akpom said.
Asked how much he owes to Carrick, Akpom replied: ‘Massively, massively.
‘I think he’s the manager I’ve been dreaming of my whole career.
‘Honestly, he’s a pleasure to work with, I go out there and give 110 per cent and I want to fight for the manager because he’s showed so much trust and confidence in me, and I really appreciate it, so I just had to dedicate that to the gaffer today.
‘Immediately when he came in he put me in the No.10 role and he just gave me the license to just roam around, you see on the pitch I’m just roaming right to left.
‘He’s given me the freedom to just go out there and express myself, I appreciate that so much.’
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