Shields star can be Main man for Middlesbrough
DEBUT DELIGHT ... Curtis Main.
CURTIS Main is ready, willing and able to go into battle again for Middlesbrough.
The powerful teenage striker, from South Shields, was thrown into action on Saturday in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in place of Marvin Emnes.
And with the Dutch striker struggling with a hamstring strain and Scott McDonald ruled out with a knee injury, Main could well be needed alongside Lukas Jutkiewicz on a regular basis – starting with Wednesday night’s FA Cup replay against Sunderland.
It was Main’s first appearance since his move along the A66 from Darlington at the end of last season, and he said: “It was good experience – I was just glad to get out onto the pitch.
“Unfortunately we could not get the points, and it turned out to be a hard-earned draw.
“But I enjoyed it, I’ve been working hard all season and it has paid off. Hopefully I’ll get to play a lot more.
“The squad has had a few injuries of late, so my chance has maybe come a little earlier than I expected.
“But I have been working hard and I’ve been ready to step in whenever I was needed.”
That day to step in was Saturday, and with an FA Cup fourth-round replay 48 hours away, the 19-year-old may be required again for the derby against Sunderland.
“Scott, unfortunately, has just been injured and our squad isn’t the biggest, so it looks like I may get a few more opportunities,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’d like to play as much as I can and as well as I can to try to help the team because the lads have had a brilliant season so far.
“The gaffer obviously thinks I’ve got something otherwise I wouldn’t have been given this opportunity.
“I’m sure he knows whether I am ready or not (for Wednesday), but it’s such a big tie I hope I will get on the pitch at some point.”
Boro boss Tony Mowbray admits it will be something of a gamble to throw Main into the firing line against Martin O’Neill’s in-form Black Cats, and also against tough Championship defenders.
But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Mowbray believes the young forward has the physical attributes to be a success.
“I think the time has come for Curtis Main, who is scoring goals quite freely for the development team, to get on the pitch,” he added.
“I have told him he will find it a lot tougher – the defenders he’ll be coming up against here will be tougher, faster and clever.
“Sometimes you have to throw them into the sea to see if they can swim.
“Curtis is going to have a part to play in the next few weeks, I’m sure.
“He’s got the physical attributes – he’s got the power and he’s got the pace. He’s learning and developing his game on the technical side.
“We’re hopeful he has a bright future.”
Twitter: @shieldsgazsport
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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