Academy star hoping to end season on a high

PHARRELL Willis will be hoping he can end his season on a high, with the academy forward helping Maidstone United reach the National League South semi-finals ahead of a summer in which his Middlesbrough contract is due to expire.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

Now 22, Willis was the first academy player to be handed a debut by Michael Carrick at Boro. He came off the bench in November 2022 in a victory at Blackpool, with the fresh-faced Boro boss noting Willis, then 19, had caught his eye with a spark in training.

Willis' career has not quite gone to plan since, however. Due to head out on loan after that first-team debut, the winger suffered a serious leg injury that would result in him missing over a year of football.

Returning last February, he ended last season with three goals and an assist in eight games for the under-21s.