Will Lankshear Earns EFL Award After Middlesbrough Form

Will Lankshear has received the EFL Young Player of the Month award after his strong start with Middlesbrough, where the 21-year-old striker has scored nine goals since joining from Tottenham and helped the club challenge for promotion.

According to Gazette Live, Lankshear joined Middlesbrough in the summer in a deal worth an initial £8 million. His goal against Wolves was his ninth of the season and his seventh in nine Championship matches.

The forward credited Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg and the club environment for helping him develop after accepting the award.

"This club has produced players that have gone on to do some amazing things, so it was an absolute no-brainer for me to come here. Middlesbrough is such a massive club. The tactical demands and what the manager expects from you as a player is so high, and I really thrive in that sort of environment.

The manager has been amazing, I feel like I’m just learning constantly. The club really believes in me and when a place really believes in me, I feel really happy. I’ll do absolutely everything to continue scoring goals and help this team." said Will Lankshear, Middlesbrough player.

Lankshear's winning goal against Wolves moved Middlesbrough into second place in the Championship after a victory over a direct promotion rival. He said his main ambition is to contribute to the club's push for top-flight football.

"It’s just to score goals and help get this club to the Premier League. I think that’s what we should all be aiming to do, and I’d love to be part of that journey" said Will Lankshear, Middlesbrough player.

Lankshear was also recalled to the England U21 squad at the end of September and scored on his debut for the Young Lions against Kazakhstan. His progress has prompted discussion over his move away from Tottenham.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson said regular first-team football is important for young players and pointed to Lankshear's current development path.

"If you are a young kid at a club where you are not getting any first-team football and you get the opportunity to go and play men's football, you should go. Getting first-team football is the best grounding you can get for a young footballer, getting the opportunity to play in the first team, regardless of what league it is. Will has been given this opportunity, and he is taking it." said Paul Robinson, former Tottenham goalkeeper.

Robinson compared Lankshear's development with the early career route taken by another Tottenham striker, while emphasizing the value of consistent senior appearances.

"I can understand the comparisons with Harry Kane. He has headed down a similar career path to Harry and, physically, he has a similar stature as well." said Paul Robinson, former Tottenham goalkeeper.

Robinson continued discussing Lankshear's progress and the similarities he sees in the striker's career development.

"Like Kane, he looks like a player who is developing a little later, compared to others who are Premier League regulars before the end of their teens." said Paul Robinson, former Tottenham goalkeeper.

The former Tottenham goalkeeper added that playing regularly at senior level can be a significant part of a young player's growth.

"You look at him and the career path he is on; it is a very similar one to the one Harry Kane has been on, and that is a big positive. There is no substitute for playing in the first team somewhere, regardless of what level you are playing at." said Paul Robinson, former Tottenham goalkeeper.