'I'm over the moon': Youngster reacts after agreeing deal to kick-off Middlesbrough's winter business

The full-back has penned a new contract which will keep him at the Riverside Stadium until the summer of 2023 after a stellar start to the season, in which Coulson and a number of other young players have established themselves in the first team fold.

And with a busy January expected, Coulson’s new deal is a positive start to the transfer hunt for both club and individual.

Indeed, the news was especially pleasing for the 21-year-old after injury threatened to thwart his early season progress.

“I think I have played well this season with the opportunities I’ve been given,” said Coulson, speaking to mfc.co.uk

“So to be rewarded with the contract - I’m over the moon to still be at the club and to be here for years to come yet.”

“I have been unlucky with injuries in the past, but when you have setbacks you have to come back stronger,” he continued.

“Obviously I had that one at the beginning of the season that took me out for ten or 11 weeks - but I feel as though I’ve picked up where I left off so that was a positive.”

Coulson is one of a crop of academy graduates who have taken their chance under Woodgate this term, and he feels the side are doing ‘really well’ after some mixed results in recent months.

“With Pearsy [Aynsley Pears], Dael [Fry], Tav [Marcus Tavernier], we’ve all come from similar age groups and played together in the past,” he said.

“It’s great seeing so many in the first team, which is where everyone wants to be.

“The young ones bring the energy and the excitement, but we’ve got the experienced players like Dani [Ayala], Randz [Darren Randolph], Jonny [Howson], they pull you through it too.

“The teams around us, they’re the games we really need to win and I think as a team we’re doing really well at the moment.”