Playing for 90
Fansided

Middlesbrough FC: Three hopes, one fear

By Sean Maslin

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Victor Valdes of Middlesbrough in action during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough FC and Crystal Palace FC at Riverside Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) *** Local Caption **** Victor Valdes
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Victor Valdes of Middlesbrough in action during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough FC and Crystal Palace FC at Riverside Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) *** Local Caption **** Victor Valdes /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Grant Leadbitter, Stewart Downing and Jordan Rhodes of Middlesbrough celebrate their ides second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Middlesbrough at St Andrews on April 29, 2016 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Grant Leadbitter, Stewart Downing and Jordan Rhodes of Middlesbrough celebrate their ides second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Middlesbrough at St Andrews on April 29, 2016 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

Hope #2: That Jordan Rhodes can finally prove that he is a Premier League scorer.

Sound the trumpets! Jordan Rhodes has finally arrived in the Premier League!

At the age of 26 Jordan Rhodes has made a name for himself throughout various levels of English football as being a prolific goal scorer. Going back to his time with Brentford in League Two the Scottish international has shown himself as a goalscorer that can truly change a match.

The numbers do not lie. In 2011-2012 Rhodes scored 36 goals in 40 matches with Huddersfield Town. In 2012-2014, he scored 27 goals in 43 matches with Blackburn. Even last season while making the mid-season transfer from Rovers to the Boro Rhodes impressed scoring six goals in eighteen matches.

So with Rhodes having finally made his grand entrance into the Premier League the question is now can he do it in the Premier League? The good news is that all of the pressure for scoring will not just be on him. During the summer transfer window management picked up Alvaro Negredo on loan from Valencia and Viktor Fischer from Ajax.

Those moves, coupled incumbent Christian Stuani staying at the Riverside gives Karanka a series of options to work with. That means Rhodes will have the chance to adjust and adapt to the rigors of the Premier League without being called upon to do everything.

Next: Hope #3: That Stewart Downing can have a comeback campaign.

Home/Middlesbrough