This article is part of Football League World's 'Player View' series, this content strand is where we put ourselves in the shoes of a given player, and offer an opinion-based outlook on the situation at hand…

It's amazing what a run of results can do.

Middlesbrough Football Club was a miserable place to be just over a month ago with performances and results leaving supporters to fear the worst of what the season might have in store.

However all of sudden, the mood seems to have lifted.

The Teessiders are on a run of one defeat in six, and while statistics can be easily manipulated, this is one of the key reasons why spirits are high in the Middlesbrough camp.

The draw against Queens Park Rangers was followed up by a near-miss in the draw with Hull City, before a narrow victory over Barnsley on Wednesday night signalled a fresh start.

There's plenty of positives to pick from those games, but the main one has to be Ashley Fletcher.

Fletcher has been something of a passenger so far this season after contributing precious little to Middlesbrough's attack in the opening three months of the season.

But after missing the defeat to Derby, he returned as a new man.

The 24-year-old has looked fit, strong and most importantly, confident.

He played a key part in the draw against QPR at Loftus Road, before taking the games against Hull City and Barnsley by the scruff of the neck.

Fletcher has scored two goals in his last two games, but his contribution has been about so much more than that.

Have a go of our International Middlesbrough quiz! Can you get 20 out of 20?

 

His all-round game has significantly improved as he's running with more intent, winning aerial duels and linking up extremely well with Britt Assombalonga in attack.

As a partnership, they've struggled so far this term but in the last two games they have looked like a threat every time they've gone forward.

Admittedly, the opposition so far this week is nothing compared to what's coming up in the next month.

First up for Middlesbrough is a trip to face Leeds United.

The Teessiders are far from being out of trouble in the relegation battle, but the victory over the Tykes will have been a huge boost.

No one would put money on Jonathan Woodgate's side getting a win against Leeds United, but if the entire team - and most notably Ashley Fletcher - can put in a performance with the same energy and confidence as they have this week then there's no doubt that they could get something from West Yorkshire.

Fletcher has a lot to prove at this level, but if he can put in another positive display against Marcelo Bielsa's side then he will be able to silence a lot of his critics.