Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has described as “a terrific achievement” by Chuba Akpom after he netted his 21st league goal this season to equal a record first set 33 years ago.
Akpom scored twice in a 5-0 thrashing of Reading to match Bernie Slaven’s record of 1990.
“It’s a terrific achievement,” saluted Carrick.
“It’s not easy to score that many goals. He’s scored all different type of goals for us since I’ve been here.
“I thought his performance was fantastic. He gets credit for his goals but his performance all-round was terrific.
“And because we have threats in different areas, he ends up getting a bit more space. To score that many goals, hopefully he can carry on and set a new target for himself.”
Akpom is the leading scorer in the English Championship, four goals more than his closest rival.
Middlesbrough are now third with 60 points from 35 matches, four points behind second-placed Sheffield United.