Chris Wilder speaks out on Folarin Balogun amid his loan stint away from Arsenal at Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough moved into the play-off places with a 4-0 win over Peterborough United at the weekend.

Arsenal loanee Balogun scored the third in a comfortable victory for the side following the return from the international break. 

That goal was his third in the Championship since joining Boro in the January transfer window.

Wilder has now urged the striker to continue this form into the end of the campaign as the club looks to claim a top six finish. 

The Middlesbrough boss has revealed that he had his eye on Balogun well before he arrived at the club and that he sees a lot of promise in the player, but now he wants the 20-year old to deliver. 

Wilder also revealed he is pleased with his overall attacking options, with five forwards now capable of striking a partnership up front in his starting lineup.

“To score goals and play both games when there is big competition there at the top of the pitch for the under-21s is great,” said Wilder, via the Northern Echo. 

“But he also understands the challenges ahead of him here. I know he’s done a couple of interviews and talked about how much he’s enjoying it here and how much he’s learning.

“The biggest thing now is how he does on the green bit on a Saturday and a midweek night. 

“I’ve got every confidence in him, and we’ve got five really good players at the top of the pitch. Josh [Coburn] has really pushed his way through which is great for me, Andy Sporar is back and Duncan [Watmore], we know exactly what we’ll get from Duncan.

“Then obviously Aaron [Connolly] and Flo come in from Premier League clubs and it’s a healthy group of players at the top of the pitch. 

“They know they’re going to have to produce and score important goals for us. We are a creator of big chances, and