Middlesbrough will face Norwich City on Tuesday in hopes of improving their recent run of form, as they have only secured one victory in their last six league matches. Spanish winger Sainz, who has yet to make his full debut for Middlesbrough due to injury, remains a potential candidate for the starting lineup. Sainz scored within minutes of his first senior appearance in the League Cup against Fulham, and manager David Wagner believes he is now ready to contribute in league matches as well. Despite lacking game time, Sainz has made progress in terms of fitness and understanding of the team’s style of play.
Wagner also has other options in the wide areas, including Christian Fassnacht who had an impressive start to his Norwich career after joining from Swiss club Young Boys. However, Fassnacht’s performance declined during a busy period of fixtures, which led to rotation and a lack of consistency in his performances. Another player who has caught Wagner’s attention is Jonny Rowe, who has impressed the manager with his performances. Additionally, Onel Hernandez is starting to regain his form after recovering from an injury. The manager now has to make the right decisions regarding which players will be most effective against specific opponents and at different stages of the game.
Overall, Middlesbrough are seeking a return to winning ways and are looking to their newly fit players, such as Sainz and Fassnacht, to contribute to the team’s success. The manager believes Sainz is ready for a starting role, given his progress in terms of fitness and understanding of the team’s style of play. However, there is tough competition in the wide areas, with Fassnacht, Rowe, and Hernandez also vying for playing time. The manager will need to carefully assess the strengths and weaknesses of each player and make decisions based on the specific requirements of each match and opponent.
