Middlesbrough: A repeat of memorable Bristol City transfer would be well received: View | OneFootball

Middlesbrough signed winger Albert Adomah from Bristol City in 2013 and he would provide the spark that lit Boro's promotion flame.

As any Middlesbrough fan who endured the Gordon Strachan era at the Riverside Stadium will testify Boro were a club that looked tired.

The club had fallen into the same trap that many relegated clubs before, and indeed after them, also got tangled up in, and that was trying to escape the grips of the Championship.

And as the Strachan era ended on Teesside, the Tony Mowbray one began, and the hometown hero turned out to be exactly what the club needed at that time.

"Mogga" guided a Middlesbrough team that under Strachan was heading towards League One at an alarming rate and brought them back to the safety of a mid-table Championship finish in the 2012/13 season.

But through his shrewd and clever navigation of the transfer market, Mowbray would recruit some far-from-household names and turn them into future Premier League promotion stars. One of them was Adomah.

Albert brought what Boro currently lack

Signed for a figure reported to be in the region of £1m in the summer of 2013, from fellow Championship rivals Bristol City.

Speaking at the time via BBC Sport, the Robins' managing director Jon Lansdown said: "Albert has been a joy to watch and a pleasure to work with over the past three years.

"His level of professionalism and courtesy is a credit to himself. I personally wish him all the best for the future and hope to see him go on to play in the Premier League."

The Ghanaian brought with him a reputation as a winger who despite not possessing top-end speed, would bring bags of skill, flair and as Boro fans would later discover, character to Teesside.

What he brought to Mowbray's and, more highly pronounced, Aitor Karanka's team, was a genuine goalscoring and assist threat from wide areas, something that current head coach Michael Carrick can't particularly say he has.

"Uncle" Albert's first thought was to always beat his full-back and if that couldn't be done - which was rare - he'd cut back inside on his right foot and pick out a killer pass or weight a cross to perfection. He lit the touchpapers of what would become some of the most exciting seasons on Teesside.

Initially under Mowbray, Boro didn't have the striker for Adomah to supply and thus show his true playmaking talents but when Karanka brought in forwards Kike and Christian Stuani respectively, Boro unearthed their recipe for goals.

Carrick should be looking for a player that fits Adomah's profile

For all the pieces of the puzzle they've put together under Carrick, one glaring hole still stands as the final piece preventing things from clicking completely.

That's the presence of true creativity from the flanks. Isaiah Jones and Sammy Silvera sit as Boro's only natural wingers, with players such as Riley McGree and Marcus Forss being comfortable out there, but perhaps not totally at home.

Middlesbrough have become victims of only having one proven creative winger - Jones - and thus have found themselves trying to force the ball down his side too often, becoming too predictable.

If they want to give themselves the best chance of winning Championship promotion next season, they would be wise to dip into the market and recruit one or two natural, direct wingers who will ease the creative burden on Jones.

Similar to how Karanka added the final piece of goalscorers to his promotion team, Boro have a strong defence, they have their midfield maestro's in the evergreen Jonny Howson and Hayden Hackney, and they've found their goalscorer in Emmanuel Latte Lath.

All that may be left for Carrick to do is to put some round pegs in round holes on his wings, and Middlesbrough could have the best chance in what will be eight years come the end of next season, to end their Premier League exile.