Scout Report – Lewis Wing
Middlesbrough have moved to secure young midfield player Lewis Wing by offering him a contract extension, with the move keeping him at the club until 2019.
The 22-year-old joined the club from Northern League Division One club Shildon ahead of this season, with Wing going on to make two EFL Cup appearances so far. He is now pushing for a place in Garry Monk’s Championship line-up.
Wing has gained great experience in training with the first-team squad and has stated that he is focused on building upon what has already been a great year. Here’s what we know about him so far.
History
Wing was born not too far from Middlesbrough, in Newton Aycliffe, and has always been a supporter of the club. As a relation of former Boro ‘keeper Jason Steele, he comes from a football family and was perhaps destined to play pro football.
As a youth player, Wing represented both Newton Aycliffe and Seaham Red Star but signed for Shildon in 2015, going on to make 114 league appearances for the club and scoring 59 times before moving to Middlesbrough.
Style Of Play
Wing is somewhat of a midfield all-rounder; his tackling and passing being particular strengths as well as being able to move forward with pace when the moment presents itself.
Some of the tough tackling needed to survive in the Northern League will need to be curbed from his game if he is to play professional football regularly, though he is at the right club to change that and should become a more cultured midfield player.
Wing’s Future
Given that he wishes to play in a central midfield role, his immediate future is most definitely as a support act given the competition at Boro for this position. Adam Clayton and Forshaw themselves are struggling for game time with Jonny Howson and a resurgent Grant Leadbitter playing so well in the middle, meaning Wing will have to be patient.
At 22, he is not too young for a fledgeling professional but his experience in the lower leagues can be a benefit, just as it was for strikers such as Jamie Vardy and Kevin Phillips. So it would not be surprising to see him climb the pecking order this season before becoming a first-team regular.
The juxtaposition he finds himself in is that should Boro be promoted, everyone would be delighted. However, that would leave him with less and less likely chances of getting first-team football. If Boro are to endure another season in the Championship, however, Wing may well prove to be a first XI regular next term.