Jonathan Woodgate makes interesting claim about Middlesbrough winger after Leeds United display

The 21-year-old wideman has been one of the club’s standout performers this season after making his debut for the Teessiders at Luton on the opening day of the campaign.

Coulson has often been deployed at left-back or as a wing-back at Boro, but impressed in a more advanced role against Leeds last time out.

After progressing through Boro’s academy, Coulson has predominately played as a winger, like he did during a loan spell at Cambridge in League Two last season.

“Most of the season I have had to play him left wing-back or left-back,” said Woodgate when asked about Coulson.

“I haven’t had George Friend fit. No one to really put in there to play that role. I've put Marvin Johnson in a few times but I have had to use Hayden there.

"He is really a wide midfielder. That's where he played coming through the ranks."

Before taking charge in the summer, Woodgate was part of Boro’s academy set-up and worked as a first-team coach under Tony Pulis.

Woodgate says he was impressed with Coulson back then and claims the winger deserved a senior call-up.

“Over the last few years he has just needed someone to put him in,” added Woodgate. When Jack Harrison was here I thought he should have been in then.

“He was showing on the training ground he was ready. He was good enough then but I wasn’t the manager, I tried to push him to Tony.”