The 29-year-old played his 100th game for Boro in their 3-2 win over Exeter City in midweek.

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has heaped praise on Matt Crooks after he notched his 100th appearance for Boro in their 3-2 win over Exeter City in midweek. The attack minded midfielder, who’s also played up front for the Teessiders in months gone by, brings a skill that Carrick believes is difficult to coach.

“I think first and foremost Crooksy is a terrific player,” the Boro boss said when asked about Crooks’ 100th game. “When you get talked about as a great character and person and great around the group, it can take away from the quality that you bring on the pitch.”Crooksy brings both sides to it and that’s why he’s so important. He leads by example with how he trains every single day and the impact he has when he’s on the pitch in terms of being such a threat and the work that he does for the team with and without the ball is really important for us, as is his threat and combination play in and around the box.

“He brings an awful lot. Being a stable character, for me, a lot of it is about people as well and having good people around the place. Good people and good players. He goes about things the right way.”

The former Rotherham United man has played in a deeper number 10 role more often this season and it’s proven to be more fruitful as opposed to the early few months of the campaign.