Middlesbrough enjoyed a season of strong performances in the 2021/22 season and were unlucky to finish just one place outside of the play off places for promotion.
While certain players shined brighter for Boro than they had before, such as Marcus Tavernier, there was one such player who failed to make the impact either he or his club had hoped.
Irish striker Aaron Connolly joined the Teesside club on loan from Brighton but will leave with having made no lasting impression on the side.
Connolly managed just two heavily-deflected goals in his five months up north and after being given plenty of game time, would eventually lose his place.
As he returns to Graham Potter’s squad down south, it remains unknown whether Connolly has a place in Potter’s visions.
Former Ireland striker David Connolly spoke on the RTE Sport podcast expressing his concerns over his fellow countryman saying: “I have worries for Aaron in terms of where he goes from him...I think (Chris Wilder) would have given Aaron a lot of opportunities to impress him in games and in training. But he also doesn’t suffer fools at all. So it worries me that he didn’t have the impact that he would have wanted.”
Check out all the latest transfer news from Middlesbrough and their Championship rivals...

5. Nottingham Forest linked with ex-Lyon striker -
The former Leicester City and Newcastle United attacker Islam Slimani is being eyed up by newly promoted side Nottingham Forest after Keinan Davis’ return to Aston Villa leaves a vacancy in the side. The Algerian international currently plays for Sporting Lisbon. (Record, Sport Witness) | AFP via Getty Images

6. Ainsworth could miss out on Blackburn job
Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth is currently third favourite for the Blackburn Rovers job, behind Daniel Farke and current front-runner Duncan Ferguson. Ainsworth starred for the likes of Preston and QPR during his playing career. (SkyBet) | Getty Images

7. Blades chase
Wolves defender, Dion Sanderson, is being targeted by several clubs after saying he is considering leaving Molineux this summer. Sunderland are hopeful of signing the defender on a permanent deal but will face fierce competition from Sheffield United (DailyMail) | Getty Images

8. Cardiff City battle for £18m striker
Watford’s Andre Gray is set to be released at the end of June with Cardiff City, Reading and Birmingham City all ready to pounce on the striker as the all hope to booster their attacking options after relegation scares last season. Gray spent last season on loan with QPR and racked up 10 goals in 28 appearances and holds an impressive Championship record of 56 goals in 146 appearances. (Football Insider) | Getty Images


