BY Philip TallentireÃ
Aitor Karanka is delighted with Albert Adomahââ¬â¢s return to form and believes the winger has benefited from being left out of the first team squad.
The Boro boss last week denied that there had been a rift between himself and Adomah, who wasnââ¬â¢t selected in the squads to face Burton Albion, Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons and didnââ¬â¢t train with the first team for several days.
But, speaking after Tuesday nightââ¬â¢s 3-0 victory over Wolves, which feature two goals and an assist from the 27-year-old Ghana international, Karanka believes the player has learned an important lesson.
Whether or not Adomah took his place in the team for granted prior to his much-publicised dropping is unclear.
But Karanka believes the fact that he wasnââ¬â¢t involved in those three games could have been a timely reminder that continued selection is solely dependent on performing to an extremely high standard week-in, week-out.
ââ¬ÅThe main thing is everybody has to know how difficult it is to play in this team,â⬠he said.
ââ¬ÅI donââ¬â¢t know if heââ¬â¢s learnt, or if now he knows, how easy it is to leave the team and how difficult it is to come back again.
ââ¬ÅSo for this reason I think itââ¬â¢s the main thing, he doesnââ¬â¢t want to lose his position because now for me it is difficult to pick 11 players on Sunday and he knows if heââ¬â¢s playing (in the team) he has to take advantage of his opportunity.
ââ¬ÅI think after those two weeks now heââ¬â¢s showing that heââ¬â¢s a very good player,â⬠added Karanka. ââ¬ÅWhen heââ¬â¢s focused on the game heââ¬â¢s a very good player.
ââ¬ÅHe had two chances to score (against Wolves) and he scored two goals, last Tuesday (against Brentford) he had one chance and he scored one goal.
ââ¬ÅLast season he missed a lot of chances so I am really pleased because after those (two) weeks heââ¬â¢s playing really well, heââ¬â¢s scoring goals so thatââ¬â¢s the main thing.
ââ¬ÅI said after the transfer market finished and he stayed here I said I was really pleased because I know how good a player he is and how much he can help the team.ââ¬