FINN AZAZ is delighted to be reunited with Morgan Whittaker – and is confident his new team-mate will play a major role in Middlesbrough’s attempts to force their way into the play-offs in the final eight games of the season.
Whittaker joined Boro in a permanent move from Plymouth Argyle in January, and while the 24-year-old has not quite hit the ground running following his switch to Teesside, there have been signs of the attacking qualities that saw him finish last season with 20 goals to his name in all competitions.
In the first half of last term, Azaz was playing alongside him as a Plymouth player on loan from Aston Villa, and the pair combined effectively on a number of occasions.
Azaz has seen enough of Whittaker to be convinced he is one of the best wingers in the Championship, and with Boro heading into the final chunk of the season desperate to overhaul the three-point gap currently separating them from the play-off positions, the pair’s relationship could be key.
“It’s great to be back with him,” said Azaz, who is currently on international duty with the Republic of Ireland as they tackle a two-legged Nations League play-off game with Bulgaria. “He’s a top-drawer player.
“We’ve got a great understanding, and I’m really looking forward to the push towards the end of the season.
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“He’s really intelligent, one of the best left foots I’ve played with, and obviously he comes inside looking for me and vice versa and he’s got great finishing as well which will help me get a few assists.
“I know he likes the ball played into him on that left foot, and it’s just getting the combinations going really. We haven’t played with each other for a couple of years, but we have in the past and that helps.”
Isaiah Jones’ January departure to Luton Town created a gap on Boro’s right-hand side, and the Teessiders moved quickly to plug it by signing Whittaker on a four-and-a-half year deal.
The winger was attracting the attention of a number of Championship clubs, but was persuaded to move to Teesside, with Azaz quick to champion Boro’s cause.
“I told him how much we have in this team and how much he would fit in,” he said. “We spoke all about the club and the fans and this team and the way we played, everything rolled into one. Obviously, that was one of the reasons he wanted to come here.”
