Zack Steffen signed for Middlesbrough during the summer transfer window from Manchester City.
A season long loan agreement brought the American to the Championship club.
The shot stopper has claimed the gloves as the team’s first choice between the sticks, appearing 17 times for the club.
Poor form in the first few months of the season saw Chris Wilder replaced as manager, with Michael Carrick coming in to take charge of the first team squad.
Steffen has retained his place in the side following Carrick’s appointment, with the team enjoying an upturn in form in recent weeks.
Boro have moved up to 14th in the table with the season currently on pause due to the World Cup.
But does Steffen have a potential future with Man City beyond this loan agreement? Here we take a look at his performances so far…
From 17 appearances in the league this season, Steffen has conceded 20 goals, keeping just four clean sheets.
He has faced 65 shots on target, making 46 saves for a percentage save total of 69.2 per cent.
That puts him 17th in the league compared to his fellow rivals between the sticks.
Boro have the lowest xGA in the entire division, with a total of 18.0, and yet have a defensive record of 26, which suggests that the keeper has been unable to save as many shots as would be expected of him.
However, we must account for the games that the American missed through injury midway through this first portion of the campaign.
Adjusting for his absence, Steffen conceded 20 goals from an xGA of 14.4.
This does still highlight a difficulty in performance from the 27-year old, and shot-stopping is an area that he will need to improve to have any chance of keeping his position in the team.
Given his age, it is unlikely that these performances will be particularly eye-catching for Pep Guardiola.
Ederson has cemented himself as City’s first choice keeper and it is unlikely that this will change anytime soon, especially with the Catalan in charge.
Perhaps Steffen’s second half of the season will prove to be an audition for him to make a move elsewhere, with Boro likely a potential destination if he can improve.