Neil Warnock reveals Middlesbrough's most improved player after Reading, Nottingham Forest and Brentford displays

Bola, 22, joined the Teessiders in July 2019 but initially looked out of his depth in the Championship following a move from League One club Blackpool.

After making seven league appearances for Boro, Bola was loaned back to Blackpool in January to gain more first-team experience and continue his development.

Back on Teesside, academy graduate Hayden Coulson was producing some impressive performances on the left for Jonathan Woodgate’s side and was recently voted the supporters’ Young Player of the Year.

Yet since Neil Warnock’s appointment at the Riverside, Marvin Johnson has been a regular pick in the left-back position, with Coulson dropping out of the side.

Bola has also forced his way into Warnock’s plans this season after receiving a chance in Boro’s 2-1 Championship win over Barnsley in October.

In fact, Bola now appears to be the club’s first-choice option on the left side of defence, following his impressive performances against Reading, Cardiff, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn and Brentford.

In those games Bola has marked and nullified some of the division’s top wide players, including Reading’s Yakou Meite, Forest’s Anthony Knockaert and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.

That has left Coulson and Johnson fighting for a starting position on the left flank, with the former getting the nod in recent weeks and the latter coming off the bench.

"Coulson's done well. He's been lively in games and done some good things,” said Warnock when asked about one of Coulson’s recent performances at Blackburn.

"Against the top sides, we have to be honest and say he's not the best defender as a full-back.

"So we look where we can use his energy and other qualities. It's the same with Marvin as well.

"But if you told me Bola can defend like he has done these last couple of games I wouldn't have believed you. Certainly not from when I first came into the club.

"Bola has got to be the most-improved player at the club at the moment, and that's really pleasing for me."

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