The revealing Rudy Gestede statistics compared to Middlesbrough's other strikers after Nottingham Forest display

Middlesbrough's Rudy Gestede celebrates scoring against Nottingham Forest.

Gestede, 31, has made 17 Championship appearances this term, yet only three of those have been starts – against Preston, Fulham and Forest.

That means we are dealing with a small sample size, yet Gestede’s stats (compiled by football database Wyscout) are worth taking note of.

The towering frontman has scored twice this season, against Preston and Forest, meaning his goal average per 90 minutes stands at 0.35.

That may seem low, but is higher than Boro’s top scorer Ashley Fletcher (0.22 goals per 90 minutes) and Britt Assombalonga (0.22 goals per 90 minutes).

Gestede has also recorded more shots per game (3.15) than Boro’s other strikers and has a higher shot accuracy score at 38.9 per cent.

In comparison, Assombalonga, who is next on the list, has registered an average of 1.82 shots per 90 minutes with a shot accuracy of 38.1 per cent.

Clearly Gestede does have limitations when it comes to closing players down and executing a high press from the front.

It’s also harder for the towering frontman to move Boro up the pitch, with his average dribbles per game (0.35) significantly lower than Boro’s other strikers – Fletcher (3.27), Assombalonga (3.5) and Lukas Nmecha (4.93).

Gestede also loses the ball more often than his forward team-mates, conceding possession an average of 19.05 times per 90 minutes.

Boro’s other strikers are less wasteful, with Fletcher (12.18), Assombalonga (10.9) and Nmecha (10.07) recording lower figures.

Unsurprisingly, though, Gestede’s aerial statistics really stand out.

On average, the 31-year-old is involved in 24.47 aerial duels per 90 minutes, winning 55 per cent of them.

Fletcher has the next best percentage at 31.2 per cent but is only involved in, on average, 5.95 duels per 90 minutes.

Then comes Assombalonga who has only won 23.8 per cent of his aerial battles.

Of course it’s worth remembering that Fletcher and Assombalonga have ultimately scored more goals this season, netting eight and six in the league respectively.

Gestede’s averages do provide food for thought though, especially when Boro are the Championship’s lowest scorers.