As Middlesbrough hunted a play-off spot, Tony Pulis looked to the top flight to strengthen.

The January window can make or break a team's success and Pulis knew he needed strength in the centre of the park.

He took a chance on Everton's Bosnian Mo Besic, a former Ferencvaros player struggling for games at Goodison Park.

Besic is a central defensive midfielder, an enforcer tasked with breaking up play and distributing the ball. He wouldn't be expected to score goals, his pass is likely to be the assist that leads to an assist. They do the unseen work, the unsung heroes of any functioning team.

Just tow Premier League outings in two seasons saw the player looking increasingly isolated, his £4m price tag small change these days for any player. Toffee's fans could have been forgiven for forgetting he was even their player, but Boro fans won't forget him in a hurry. He's been excellent for them in the short time he's been there.

He's only made seven appearances for Pulis, all of them starts, but he's certainly stamped his authority on the side. At five foot nine, you don't expect him to be dominant in the air, but he still wins 50% of his aerial duels. That's impressive, especially when you concede tow or three inches to most of your opponents.

There's been no goals, that wasn't to be expected, but he has provided an assist. Whilst it won't be in his specific remit to do so, it is good to see him contributing in other areas.

Where he comes into his own is tackling and distribution. His tackle success rate is 67%, anything higher than 50% is surely positive, after all a tackle is '50/50' by definition, is it not?

When he does get the ball his delivery and consistency is incredibly. There's a reason he represents Bosnia at international level and at the Riverside he's showing it. He makes, on average, 42.2 passes per game, 87% of which are successful. That accuracy is almost unnerving and it demonstrates his value as an engine room in the middle of the pitch.

This season alone, Besic made five Europa League appearances, but he doesn't seem to figure in the first team plans at Goodison.

Pulis would be wise to invest some of his summer war-chest in the Bosnian because he's had a strong impact and, at only 25-years old, he could easily develop into a cracking footballer.

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