MATTHEW Hoppe did his Middlesbrough chances no harm with a brace for the Under-21s in front of watching Michael Carrick earlier this week.
And it wasn't just on the pitch against Sunderland's youngsters that Hoppe caught the eye. Carrick has praised the forward's character and attitude and says he will do what he can to give the American some first team game-time.
Since signing in the summer, Hoppe has only made six appearances for Boro in the Championship - all from the bench. And with Matt Crooks, Marcus Forss and Cameron Archer above him in the pecking order to play-up front, it'll be difficult for Hoppe to force his way into the side this season.
But he's going about things the right way. Despite his lack of football, his attitude and application has impressed Carrick and he took his chance in the outing for Mark Tinkler's Under-21s.
Carrick said: “He scored two really good goals, and his second one especially was a really good finish. That’s the thing about having a squad with so many options...but he’s a really great lad Matty; I really like him.
"He comes into training every day with a big smile and he’s a big part of the squad in terms of his personality and his character. He’s got a great attitude and is striving to get better all the time. That, for me as a coach and leading the team, it’s what you want. You want the players to be hungry to improve and he’s certainly that.
"There are only so many opportunities for game-time, so many names that you can put on the team sheet, and unfortunately Matty hasn't had as much football as he would like, which I can fully understand and appreciate. But if he keeps working hard we’ll see what happens because we’ll try and give everybody as much opportunity as we possibly can.”
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Carrick watched on as the Under-21s beat Sunderland 7-5 in a crazy game at the start of the week.
He said: “It was a quiet game, wasn’t it!? It’s sometimes impossible to get to the under-21 games, but Monday was an opportunity and I was delighted to go and watch the boys and see them play in close quarters.
"We see them most days because quite often we have a good number of them training with us pretty much every day anyway. So I’m getting to know the boys very well and trying to give them the opportunity.
"It’s ultimately up to them to earn it, and they have to be good enough, but of course they will be given every chance to come and join us and be part of it, if they keep doing the right things."
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