Why Middlesbrough fans should be happy Britt Assombalonga stayed despite Bristol City reports

After joining Boro for a club-record £15million fee in 2017, expectations were always going to be high for the striker who averaged just under a goal every two games for former club Nottingham Forest.

The 28-year-old hasn’t reached those heights at Boro, though his 47 goals in 154 appearances have made him the club’s top Championship goalscorer of all time.

This season has been a challenging one for Assombalonga, who has netted just five league goals and found himself left out of the side on multiple occasions.

For that reason, some supporters seemed willing to let the forward leave midway through the season, with Bristol City striker Famara Diedhiou tipped as possible replacement.

Whether Assombalonga left in January or does so in the summer, Boro would be set to make a huge loss. It was mooted the Robins were prepared to pay around £2million for the frontman.

How genuine that interest was, or if there were other clubs keeping an eye on the situation, is unclear. Yet it would seem foolish to accept that sort of offer when Warnock’s side are fighting for a play-off place.

At present Assombalonga is still the club’s best centre forward and his departure would have left Boro weaker.

Some may argue that Ashley Fletcher is the Teessiders’ best striker option now he has recovered from a hamstring injury, yet it’s likely to take a couple of weeks for last season’s top scorer to regain his match sharpness.

“I’m still probably rushing him a bit,” said Warnock when asked about Fletcher a couple of weeks ago.

Besides, the striker’s return may also bring the best out of Assombalonga, and the pair appeared to be forming a good partnership before Fletcher’s injury.

Boro have also made more attacking acquisitions, bringing in the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Neeskens Kebano, who will provide more support for the side’s striker.

There have been games this season when Assombalonga has looked like one of the best Championship forwards around. He was excellent in December’s 4-1 win at Birmingham and finally scored against former club Forest last month.

"I just wish he’d do that every week,” said Warnock after the 2-1 victory at the City Ground.

In the aforementioned games, Assombalonga benefitted from having players who could run beyond him when he dropped deep to receive the ball to feet.

With more attacking players on the pitch, it should prevent the striker becoming isolated as much.

The role Assombalonga plays in the dressing room shouldn’t be underestimated either. The captain is a popular and buoyant figure at Rockliffe and would have been missed at the training ground.

There will still be games this season which Warnock feels suit playing Fletcher or Chuba Akpom up front, while Assombalonga will know he has to find more consistency for the second half of the campaign.

Still, the Boro captain will have a big part to play over the next few months as the Teessiders compete for a top-six spot. At his best, the striker is a real asset.

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