Speaking exclusively to BOYLE Sports , former Manchester United midfielder Gordon Strachan has run the rule over the EFL and the stories making headlines in the Championship .
Strachan has backed Will Lankshear to be the finisher and presence who drives Middlesbrough back toward the Premier League , comparing his potential figurehead role to that of Robert Lewandowski for Poland .
The former midfielder has also argued that Tonda Eckert 's punishment at Southampton was more than fair, and explained why Jarrod Bowen 's commitment to West Ham is admirable despite the impact on his England hopes.
Middlesbrough
Is Will Lankshear Ready to Fire Middlesbrough Back Up?
I always like to see Middlesbrough do well because of how well Steve Gibson and the club treated me. The area is passionate and deserves success. Will Lankshear is big, strong, and has a great goalscoring instinct. He could prove to be the key that drives Middlesbrough back toward the Premier League . There are a lot of clubs who play a lot of good football in that division, but they do not have a finisher and a presence like that.
I was thinking earlier about Robert Lewandowski with Poland and how much of a figurehead he is; Lankshear can be that for Middlesbrough . I think this could be the one that hopefully gets Middlesbrough back.
Southampton
Was the Punishment Handed to Tonda Eckert Fair?
The punishment is more than fair. The situation didn't benefit anyone. Tonda Eckert made a mistake and has suffered the consequences by missing out on crucial matches and bearing that burden. There comes a point where punishment should focus on education rather than destruction. He has taken responsibility for his mistake and deserves the chance to move forward with his career.
The punishment of not getting up is hard to bear for him. I don't know the fella. It must be horrifically hard for all that hard work put in for everybody over the year to be taken away. Then they get points taken off them, but the punishment of not making that final was more than enough. It's punished everybody in Southampton . He has to live with that. I think there's a point where enough's enough. When the lad made a mistake, he'll not make it again; let him get on with enjoying his football.
He was never the happiest of fellas in the best of times, but he looks like a man who has, and sometimes quite rightly so, had to take the weight of that decision and the consequences. He's suffered enough; let's move on now.
West Ham
Has Jarrod Bowen's Decision to Stay Ended His England Chances?
Jarrod Bowen 's commitment to West Ham is admirable. Playing in front of 60,000 fans every week for a club where his family is settled is a great situation for him. For England , Thomas Tuchel is bringing through new talent, so competition for places is fierce regardless of what division he's in; he'd find it hard to get in anyway.
So I think the England thing is a misconception there. I think Tuchel has moved on; he's moved on for a lot of players. Also, I think missing out on national duty can be a blessing because of the number of games you play and the treadmill you're on at the Championship ; I think it's good to have a break. I really do.
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