Slaven inspires Akpom to be a top-20 hit

Waiting for him pitch-side at the final whistle was the last man to do it - Bernie Slaven.

CHUBA AKPOM became the first Middlesbrough player to hit 20 league goals in a season for 33 years by scoring twice in the 5-0 rout of Reading.

Akpom has 21 goals in the Championship this term for Boro, who are four points behind second-placed Sheffield United.

Former Arsenal rookie Akpom, 27, said of Slaven:

"We were having a laugh. He's a top guy. He was saying it's been a long wait and he said he loves the way I play.

"When I was on maybe 15 goals, he was messaging me and pushing me and motivating me.