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Middlesbrough are facing an uphill battle to secure a place in the play-offs this season, but one of their loanees is faring much better.
Boro have been hampered by injuries over the course of the 2024/25 campaign and were without a single senior centre-back for their midweek meeting with Queens Park Rangers.
This crisis, which has included star man Ben Doak suffering a long-term blow and being sent back to Liverpool, has, unsurprisingly, impacted Middlesbrough’s form.
The Teessiders face relegation-threatened Luton Town this weekend and really need a win if they are to keep pace with the rest of the play-off-chasing pack in the Championship.
Middlesbrough did begin the latest game week just outside the top-six, but with just six points separating fifth and 11th, anything could happen in the final nine games of the season.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 5 |  Bristol CityBristol City | 38 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 49 | 41 | 8 | 57 |
| 6 |  West BromWest Brom | 37 | 13 | 17 | 7 | 47 | 33 | 14 | 56 |
| 7 |  CoventryCoventry | 37 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 52 | 48 | 4 | 56 |
| 8 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 37 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 57 | 48 | 9 | 53 |
| 9 |  BlackburnBlackburn | 37 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 41 | 38 | 3 | 52 |
| 10 |  WatfordWatford | 37 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 47 | 50 | -3 | 52 |
| 11 |  Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday | 37 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 53 | 58 | -5 | 51 |
While the play-offs are by no means guaranteed for Michael Carrick’s men, one Boro loanee has a very good chance of lining out at Wembley later this year.
Middlesbrough loanee Alex Gilbert thirivng with Charlton Athletic
Middlesbrough had a busy 2025 January transfer window, completing six transfers – one of which was the permanent signing of George Edmundson.
Meanwhile, eight players left the Riverside Stadium on loan or temporary deals over the winter.
Emmanuel Latte Lath was the marquee exit, moving to the MLS in a £22.5m deal, but it’s Alex Gilbert who has shone the most since his move.
Amid a lack of playing time in the first half of 2024/25, the midfielder joined League One outfit Charlton Athletic on loan in January.
Gilbert has since made six league appearances for Chalrton, in which he has already notched a very impressive four assists.
In no small part due to the Boro loanee’s excellent form since his arrival, the Addicks, who were unbeaten in their last five before Saturday, had climbed up to fourth in the League One table – just five points adrift of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham.
Wrexham and second-place Wycombe Wanderers clash in a 3pm kick-off on March 15th, meaning one or both will drop points and potentially allow Charlton to gain more ground in the promotion race.
Even if automatic promotion is a step too far, however, Gilbert looks certain to be competing in the play-offs come May as his new club are already five points clear of seventh-place Huddersfield Town.
Alex Gilbert commented on lack of Middlesbrough minutes
Before his loan, Gilbert made just seven Championship appearances for a total of 70 minutes in 2024/25.
Despite his limited outings, there were clear signs of quality, including when he scored a late winner against Hull City on January 1st.
Speaking after that clash, as per BBC Tees, the 23-year-old admitted the lack of game time was ‘difficult’ for him.
He said: “For me personally, it’s been difficult. The lads in those forward areas that I’m challenging for have been doing so well and it’s difficult when you’re on the sideline for long periods of time and you’re trying to fight your way in.
“When you only get little minutes here and there, it can be difficult to make an impact. Thankfully tonight went really well, but often it’s hard to get yourself in the game. Hopefully moments like this can help me keep chipping away to keep me in the mind of the gaffer.
“It has been difficult and there’s no hiding from the fact that I’ve wanted more opportunities than I’ve had. But I’ve loved it here. I get on well with all the lads, it’s a great environment to work in and I love coming in for training every day.”