SOMETIMES, you just need a chance. After his starring role at Hull City on Friday night, Alex Gilbert is hoping his Middlesbrough career is about to take off.

Signed from Brentford’s reserves ranks in the summer of 2023, Gilbert has spent most of the last two years kicking his heels on the fringe of Boro ’s first-team squad. Prior to Friday, the 23-year-old had made just five senior starts for the Teessiders over the course of two-and-a-half seasons.

His most recent appearance of any description had been a nine-minute substitute appearance at Preston in January, an outing that came just a week before he left Boro to spend the second half of last season at Charlton Athletic on loan.

So, while his fine display at Hull’s MKM Stadium on Friday was a welcome step forward, Gilbert is not ta

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