Patience is key for Middlesbrough summer signing after glimpses of class - Boro start debrief
It's fair to say when it first became apparent that Middlesbrough were going to be signing Micah Hamilton from Manchester City, excitement was high - particularly because this wasn't a loan deal as many initially expected but was, in fact, a permanent move.
Given Hamilton was making his full debut for Pep Guardiola's side last term and marking it with a goal within 20 minutes against Red Star Belgrade, Boro's capture was, and still should be, considered a real coup. It was a memorable Champions League night for the 20-year-old, highlighting the remarkable prospects of the forward, which made him a particularly exciting summer signing for Boro.
But with that in mind, you would be forgiven for sitting at this stage and ultimately feeling like you want a little more from Hamilton after a relatively slow start in a Boro shirt compared to those previous highs for City. Even with the step-down in level, though, Boro always expected patience to be the name of the game with Hamilton.
READ MORE: Riley McGree selection decision explained as Carrick offers Micah Hamilton verdict
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Part of City's youth ranks for many years, the 20-year-old was leaving an environment he was highly comfortable in to move to Teesside where, at such a young age, he now has many things to learn and adapt to, both on and off the pitch. Publicly, Michael Carrick has highlighted the need for patience, and it's fair to say it's a message that has been stressed privately by club sources, too, with Boro officials keen not to expect too much too soon.
Boro can afford to give him that time thanks to their strength in depth in their squad, particularly in those attacking areas. There have been comparisons made to Morgan Rogers and the time it took him to settle and start producing his best for Boro. As Carrick pointed out after his crowning Champions League evening recently, at the same time 12 months ago he was coming off the bench to score his first Boro goal against Birmingham City, such was his rapid rise when it finally clicked.
When that comparison of the two former Man City youth players was put to the Boro boss though, he was keen to point out that Hamilton arrives at Boro arguably less prepared than Rogers. Although Hamilton experienced some first-team game time at the Etihad, Rogers had three EFL loan spells under his belt before his Riverside move, meaning there was no culture shock for him.
In terms of Hamilton's impact at Boro so far, Carrick's patience in the wide man means there isn't much to go on yet. Perhaps timely as far as this feature is concerned, he was handed his first league start for the club at Watford before the break. His only other previous start came in the cup defeat to Stoke City, where he struggled to make an impression in what was clearly a night that came a bit too early for him as far as his integration was concerned.
But far more up to speed at Vicarage Road, there were plenty of positive glimpses of the quality he possesses and the potential he has. Make no mistake, while he's yet to truly catch fire, there's no one inside Boro who watches Hamilton day in, day out who isn't extremely excited about the player he can become in time.
Though perhaps trying a little too hard to make a positive impression - perhaps understandable given Boro's over-reliance to go right to Ben Doak even when Hamilton held a more promising position - there were moments of quality. He linked well with Neto Borges down the left and supported him well from a defensive point of view, too. It's worth noting Boro were still 1-0 up when Hamilton was replaced and Boro's collapse began.
He had one big chance in the first half. He didn't quite manage to get enough power behind it in the end, but his close ball control and agility in a crowded area to turn himself into the shooting position were impressive. That protection of the ball, helped by an impeccable first touch, was evident throughout. That ball sticks when fired into him.
He regularly picked pockets of space and cried out for the ball in intricate areas with real belief that he'd hold off his marker. That he didn't get the ball as often as he should have was perhaps a teething issue as his team-mates grow to trust him in positions where he otherwise might appear to be marked, while it was also potentially an issue as far as over-reliance on Doak is concerned.
Either way, while his desire to impress may have turned his involvement frustrations into a little anxiety, it's fair to say whenever he was offered a chance to get on the ball at Watford, he generally tried and succeeded in doing something positive with it. By no means did he manage to make the same kind of impact that Doak did a week earlier in his first start, but he showed glimpses, nevertheless.
His starting position has been an interesting one too. That aforementioned crowning Manchester City moment came from the right wing, and while he's flexible enough to play across the forward line, it tended to be the right side he did his best work for City. All signs pointed towards that being his position after arriving at Boro too, but with Doak's surprising late arrival adding to Isaiah Jones and Marcus Forss who also contest for that role, Hamilton has found himself switched to the left, as Riley McGree's deputy so far. It's yet another reason while time might be of the essence for the young forward, with that left-sided role one that carries very specific and unique instructions to the bog-standard wide-forward role.
The long and short of this is to ultimately say that Hamilton deserves time. He'll be given it too. Boro officials always quietly felt that Hamilton was likely to find his feet and really start to make his mark in the second half of the season. Boro can afford to offer him that time too. With plenty of help and guidance from coaches and team-mates, there's still an awful lot more to come from Hamilton, and that should be an exciting prospect.