Jack King was full of praise for 18-year-old Ben Wilmot following his third consecutive first-team start in the 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Reading.

The Boro academy graduate has impressed at the back alongside King, who believes Wilmot has done well since coming into the team and that he has a bright future in football.

King told CometSport: “It’s been good.

“We conceded a few goals and kept a clean sheet in the first game against Reading.

“He’s done okay. It’s a very tough position to play and to blood yourself in.

“When you play at centre-back generally, if you make a mistake it’s a goal.

“If you come into the team higher up the pitch and you are making mistakes it’s not going to cost you a goal.

“He’s been thrown in at the deep end, he’s doing well, he’s a good player and I’m sure he has a bright future ahead of him.”