This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Middlesbrough completed the signing of Daniel Barlaser from Rotherham United last month ending his three-year spell at the New York Stadium.

The 26-year-old scored 14 goals in 117 appearances and helped earn two promotions from League One during his time at the club.

Before joining Boro, the midfielder had enjoyed a strong start to the Championship season with two goals and seven assists.

Barlaser made his debut for Middlesbrough at the weekend, playing 27 minutes in the 3-0 win over Blackpool after replacing Hayden Hackney.

As his career at Boro just begins, here at FLW we asked Middlesbrough fan pundit Dana Malt her thoughts on whether Barlaser will oust Hackney or Jonny Howson in the starting XI.

She told FLW: “I don’t but that's no measurement on Dan Barlaser and his capabilities because I thought he had a real cameo off the bench against Blackpool.

“It's solely down to the performances of Howson and Hackney, they've got a really good dynamic going on in midfield and I can't really see that being disrupted from the off unless there's an injury or a suspension. So, for now, I think it remains the same but it is a good headache and a good dilemma for Michael Carrick to have.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Verdict

Barlaser was clearly someone that Michael Carrick was a big fan of, and it was evidently clear that he was one of his key targets at the start of the January transfer window.

However, Barlaser has come in at a time when Middlesbrough are performing remarkably well, and the midfield duo of Howson and Hackney has been performing more or less since Carrick was appointed Boro boss.

So, at this moment in time, Barlaser has a fight on his hands in terms of getting into the starting XI. However, he is a player that can still have a big impact off the bench, and the Championship is a long, hard season with plenty of twists and turns, so there will come a moment when he is needed right away by Carrick, and this is where the midfielder is likely going to take his chance and become a regular in the Boro starting XI.