Michael Carrick full of praise for Middlesbrough's latest Irish maestro

Alex Gilbert scored Boro's late winner in the New Year’s Day Championship fixture at Hull City.

IRISH MAESTRO: Middlesbrough's Alex Gilbert celebrates after the Sky Bet Championship match at the MKM Stadium, Kingston upon Hull. Pic: Ian Hodgson/PA Wire.

Michael Carrick has hailed Alex Gilbert after the former Ireland U21 attacker scored Middlesbrough’s late winner in the New Year’s Day Championship fixture at Hull City.

Carrick had been grateful to another Irish international – Finn Azaz – for supplying eight goals this term but his late replacement in the number 10 role delivered on Humberside.

English-born Gilbert has struggled for gametime since rejecting a contract extension from Brentford last year to join Boro on a four-year deal.

Carrick last week scotched speculation of a loan move for the 23-year-old in this window by assuring Gilbert of exposure.

He was sent on for Azaz with two minutes remaining and the game scoreless, providing the solitary goal three minutes into stoppage time.

“Alex fully deserves the feeling that he’s created for himself and for all of us,” said former Manchester United midfielder Carrick, acclaiming a victory which lifts his side into fifth placed.

“It’s been a busy period so we felt it would be wise to freshen things up. There was also the fact that we've got good players so we don’t feel we’ll have a drop-off.”

Gilbert, who won all six of Ireland U21 caps in 2021, added: “The fans haven’t seen much of me since I’ve been so hopefully that goal keeps me in their minds.”