Boro Mania

Nathan Porritt recently put pen to paper on his first professional contract, signing a two year deal with Middlesbrough. The news that Porritt had signed for Boro put an end to months of speculation surrounding the young winger/forward.

Porritt shot into the limelight in 2006 in a BBC Panorama documentary in which it was alleged that several other teams (Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle) had attempted to "tap up" the Boro youngster in an attempt to lure him away from The Riverside.

Nathan Porritt in action for England Under-17's

Back then, as a 15/16 year old, Porritt (once dubbed the new Ryan Giggs) was considered one of the finest young players in the country and said to be better than England International Stewart Downing was at the same stage of his development.

Since then many had felt that his development, either through injury or off field distractions, had slowed down and he was no longer the "superstar in the making" prospect that Boro had hoped. What is probably more accurate is that the expectation that arrived with the TV documentary and subsequent media articles dubbing him England's next big thing, was blown out of all proportion and that he has in fact been developing well for Boro.

I got my first look at him a few weeks ago in a reserve fixture against Hull City and you could instantly see he was a confident lad, as he strode around the pitch with his bright orange/gold boots on. He was involved in both Boro goals that night, impressing and frustrating me in equal measure. When he did what he was good at, getting the ball, beating his defender through skill or pace and delivering a good cross (as he did for Tom Craddock's second goal that night) he was very impressive. When he was trying to flick the ball just outside his own box or running into players when a pass was on, he was frustrating, but these are issues the Boro coaches can iron out.

Porritt has found himself on the Boro bench this season and is there through merit, I think we will see him involved with the first team at some point this season. Nathan Porritt has bags of ability, tricks and huge potential and he has reached a critical stage in his development as he gets closer and closer to the first team. As a left winger (Boro seem to have an ability for producing these) or someone who can play off a striker Porritt is certainly a player to watch at Middlesbrough and with our recent record of academy players turning out for the senior side you wouldn't bet against the Teessider making his Premiership debut in 2008/09.

Porritt was released by Middlesbrough in January 2010 after failing to realise his potetial at the club.