There is a reasonable argument that Amario Cozier-Duberry is already one of the most exciting wide players in the Championship this season. Three games in and the Brighton loanee is making that case look stronger by the week.

What he did against Birmingham

Cozier-Duberry did not score against Birmingham, which is probably the only thing that kept the headlines from being entirely his. After netting in each of his two previous appearances for Middlesbrough, the 21-year-old instead delivered something arguably more instructive: a complete wide-forward performance that shaped a match without ever needing the ball to end up in the net with his name attached.

The goal that mattered most began with a long, sustained run down the right. He skipped past multiple defenders, keeping his feet and his composure in tight spaces, before creating the opening in the centre of the box that Max Arfsten converted. The official record will show an assist. That does not really cover it. Carrying the ball that distance, against organised resistance, and still producing a usable chance at the end of it requires a particular kind of stamina and confidence. Cozier-Duberry had both in abundance.

BBC Final Score reporter Sam Fletcher noted that a simple "assist" did not do justice to the quality of the run, and it is hard to disagree. There is a difference between a ball played into a teammate's path and an individual effort that essentially manufactures a chance from nothing. This was the latter.

The workload question

What makes the performance stand out further is the context of minutes played. Cozier-Duberry has accumulated 232 minutes in the past week alone across Middlesbrough's fixtures. For a loanee still embedding himself into a new club's rhythm and demands, that is a significant physical ask.

Loan spells can go one of two ways early on: a player either takes time to find his footing, or he hits the ground running and makes the position his own within days. Cozier-Duberry is firmly in the second category. The concern for supporters will be whether that early intensity can be sustained across a full Championship campaign, which is long, physical, and unforgiving on wide players asked to press as well as create.

We do not yet have the numbers to say how his output compares across a full season's sample. Three games is not enough to draw firm conclusions about sustainability. What we can say is that, on the evidence so far, he has not looked like a player who needs time to settle.

The bigger picture for Middlesbrough

Boro were top of the table at half-time before having to settle for a point against Birmingham. That will sting. Matches like this, where a side is within touching distance of going clear at the summit and cannot hold on, tend to be the ones that loom large when the season is reviewed in May.

The BBC's reporter pointed to some defensive work still to be done, and that is a fair observation. Middlesbrough cannot rely on individual brilliance from a loanee every week to paper over cracks at the other end. The Championship is too competitive and too unpredictable for that.

But the attacking quality is clearly there. Cozier-Duberry gives Boro a genuine outlet on the right, someone who can beat a man, cover ground, and arrive in dangerous areas repeatedly across ninety minutes. For a club with genuine promotion ambitions, having that kind of player operating at this level of consistency is a significant asset.

The next few weeks will tell us whether this is a bright start or a sign of something more durable. For now, Middlesbrough supporters have every reason to be excited about what they are watching on the right flank.

Frequently asked

Who is Amario Cozier-Duberry and why is he at Middlesbrough?
Amario Cozier-Duberry is a 21-year-old winger on loan at Middlesbrough from Brighton. He has started the Championship season in impressive form, scoring in his first two appearances and adding a creative contribution against Birmingham.
How has Cozier-Duberry performed for Boro so far this season?
He scored in each of his first two Championship games for Middlesbrough and then provided a key assist in the draw with Birmingham, playing 232 minutes in a single week across the club's fixtures.
What was the result of Middlesbrough vs Birmingham?
Middlesbrough rescued a point against Birmingham. They had been top of the Championship table at half-time but were unable to hold on for the win, dropping points late in the match.