Is He Getting Cold Feet?

Yesterday, I expressed my concern over the Hayden Coulson saga. This reminds me of another protracted transfer bid when we tried and failed to lure Matt Crooks To Portman Road.

The question is, are we beginning to witness something eerily similar? Speculation grew for many weeks that Town were after Coulson. Then it went all quiet on the ‘Weston’ front until the beginning of this month when once again Coulson was back on the agenda.

The Blues were looking initially to buy the player, but the Middlesborough board emphatically declined that idea and opted instead for some kind of loan deal. The 23-year-old, who can play either at left-back – or in a more advanced attacking position, had interested Town boss Paul Cook for many months, as he monitored his progress in the North East.

Then it emerged that Middlesborough manager Neil Warnock might entertain the idea of a swap-deal for the player. There was even talk of a player exchange involving Flynn Downes and Hayden Coulson but once again, this prospect seemingly came to nothing. What did not go away, however, was the very real possibility that we could have Coulson on a season-long loan.

What has occurred since is that the Boro have suffered injuries to key players, and his double strike for Middlesborough last week in the 7-0 thrashing of little Tavistock has alerted Warnock to his versatility when playing in a more advanced role. Now it seems all bets are off for the moment. Coulson was obviously out to impress that night, and he obviously did!

It might also be an indicator of where the players head is. Maybe the local lad does not want to budge and is out to impress the gaffer. He has been loaned out before to St Mirren in 2018 and Cambridge United in 2019, but the fact that he is still with Middlesborough tells me three things. 1. It’s his home town club. 2. He is highly regarded by Boro. 3. He would much prefer to stay there and fight for his place in the team – if it is at all possible?

The previous boss Jonathan Woodgate constantly raved about the qualities of his wing-back, and now the player has to win over Warnock as well. Judging by his display the other night, he might just be doing it. Things could change if Warnock manages to persuade Cardiff City’s defender Ciaron Brown to join them. Until then, however, the waiting game will probably continue.