Middlesbrough assessing striker options as Stephen Walker is recalled from MK Dons loan spell

The 20-year-old was due to stay with The Dons until the end of the season but returned to Rockliffe on Wednesday.

It comes after Walker scored twice in MK Dons’ 2-0 EFL Trophy win over Northampton earlier this week.

The striker has made 12 appearances in League One this season, scoring twice, yet just five of those have been starts.

Walker also scored in last month’s 6-0 EFL Trophy win over Norwich’s under-23 side, meaning he’s netted five goals in 17 games in all competitions this term.

Boro will now assess their options with Walker and what is best for the striker’s development

The forward made seven appearances for the Teessiders last season before he was loaned out to Crewe for the second half of the campaign.

Boro striker Ashley Fletcher is expected to return from a lengthy hamstring injury in the next few weeks while Britt Assombalonga and Chuba Akpom are also competing for a starting place.

Reports have suggested the Teessiders are tracking Bristol City striker Famara Diedhiou, who will be out of contract this summer, yet Robins boss Dean Holden is hopeful the player will stay at Ashton Gate.

When asked about Diedhiou last week, Boro boss Neil Warnock joked: “I’ve not been very lucky with signings from Bristol City so I might probably say no, I might give that a miss.”

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