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Player Profile: Chuba Akpom – Deeper role has unlocked potential

The Middlesbrough forward goes under the spotlight
By Chris Dunlavy

Michael Carrick had been managing Middlesbrough for a matter of days when he realised that Chuba Akpom isn’t a striker.
A clunky 4-4-2 was ditched for a flexible 4-2-3-1. Akpom was dropped into the hole. Overnight, both player and club were transformed.
Following the former Manchester United and England midfielder’s appointment in late October, the Teessiders won ten of their next 14 league matches, soared from 21st to third and currently look the only team capable of gatecrashing the two-horse race for automatic promotion....

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