Middlesbrough are second in the Championship after nine games, with just one defeat to their name, and the simplest explanation for that position is also the most compelling one: Will Lankshear is in the form of his life, and the rest of the division has not yet found an answer to him.

The 21-year-old has scored seven league goals already this season, a tally that puts him clear at the top of the second-tier scoring charts. His latest came in a win over promotion rivals Wolves, a headed finish that his manager described as being "on a different level", executed with a technical assurance that belied both his age and the occasion. It was also the goal that marked the 150th anniversary of the club. Symbolism does not win leagues, but timing does, and Lankshear's has been impeccable.

More than a poacher

What distinguishes Lankshear from a straightforward hot streak is the range he is showing. The headed goal against Wolves illustrated an aerial capacity that pure poachers rarely possess. He holds the ball, links play, and then arrives in the right place at the right moment. Kim Hellberg has a forward who gives him options rather than simply demanding service.

That versatility matters in a division where defences quickly work out one-dimensional strikers. After seven goals in nine games the tape on Lankshear is growing, and the next six weeks will reveal far more about him than the opening burst has. A hot run of four or five games flatters plenty of strikers in this division every season; it is what happens in games eleven through twenty that separates a genuine promotion asset from a decent player riding confidence.

The signs, to be fair to Lankshear, point the right way. Against Wolves, when his goal had been scored, Boro still had to defend for long periods against a side with genuine quality. They did so. Substitute Kyle Joseph struck the crossbar late on, which suggests the squad depth behind Lankshear is not negligible either.

The promotion picture

Middlesbrough already know the cost of arriving at May in third, fourth, fifth or sixth place. Last season they went through the play-offs and lost the final to Hull City, missing out on the Premier League despite being good enough to reach Wembley. That experience sharpens the mind. Second place after nine games is precisely the kind of start that allows a side to target the automatic spots rather than leaving themselves at the mercy of a one-off game.

The Championship is a 46-game season, and nine games in represents under a fifth of the campaign. There are roughly 37 games still to be played, meaning the table will shift considerably before anything is settled. Injuries, suspensions, and a run of three away games in a fortnight can derail sides that look nailed on in October. Boro supporters will know this better than most.

But the building blocks are in place. A strike force with Lankshear at its centre, a manager willing to grind out results when the performance is not there, and a squad that can contribute from the bench. If Lankshear remains fit, the conversation at the Riverside will be about automatic promotion, not the lottery of the play-offs.

The question nobody wants to answer

How Tottenham allowed Lankshear to leave and establish himself so emphatically in the Championship is a question that does not need answering here. What matters for Boro is that he is theirs, he is scoring, and the opposition has not yet stopped him. Keeping him fit and focused between now and May is the task. Seven goals in nine games is a brilliant start. Thirty-odd in forty-six would be something else entirely.

Frequently asked

How many goals has Will Lankshear scored for Middlesbrough this season?
Lankshear has scored seven Championship goals in nine league games for Middlesbrough so far this season, making him the division's top scorer.
Where are Middlesbrough in the Championship table?
Middlesbrough are second in the Championship after nine games, having lost just once so far this season.
Did Middlesbrough reach the Championship play-off final last season?
Yes. Middlesbrough reached the play-off final last season but lost to Hull City, missing out on promotion to the Premier League.