Bloomfield's Praise Highlights Lankshear's Potential
Middlesbrough's Will Lankshear, 21, has been lauded by former manager Matt Bloomfield as a 'born goalscorer' after scoring on his competitive debut against Wrexham and netting a brace against Lincoln City. Bloomfield, who guided Lankshear at Oxford United, told Sky Sports: "He is obsessed. All he wants to do is train and score. He is a lovely lad but has an edge to him."
Lankshear's Impact and Middlesbrough's Promotion Prospects
Lankshear's arrival has bolstered Boro's attacking options, with manager Kim Hellberg citing his role as critical to avoiding last season's relegation battle. The forward, who joined from Tottenham for a fee potentially reaching £20m, has already scored four goals in three games. Bloomfield compared his work ethic to Harry Kane's, noting: "These guys are born goalscorers but also work incredibly hard at their craft."
Lankshear's Career Path and Loan Spells
The England youth international moved to Tottenham in 2022 after stints at Sheffield United and Oxford United. He loaned to West Brom in 2025 without scoring, before returning to the Championship with Oxford, where he scored 12 goals in 47 games. Middlesbrough's investment now hinges on his fitness and consistency as they aim for Premier League promotion.
