One to Watch – Albert Adomah

Name: Albert Adomah

Date of Birth: 13.12.1987

Former clubs: Harrow Borough, Barnet, Bristol City.

Appearances (goals): 386 (64)

In a season that started with Albert Adomah handing in a transfer request after just a handful of games, it could end in a more positive fashion for the winger, who remains an integral part of the Middlesbrough squad, should the club go one step further this campaign and secure promotion.

Having started the opening four games, Adomah was benched for the visit of former club Bristol City, leading to a disagreement with manager Aitor Karanka, and was closely followed by his desire to move on, which was rejected by the Riverside hierarchy, due to his importance to the team.

After sitting out three matches owing to the dispute, the winger was reintegrated back into the squad, scoring the first of his five league goals this campaign on his return, and he has gone on to make 38 appearances in all competitions for Karanka`s men, contributing five assists along the way.

The London born Adomah began his career in the non-league game with Harrow Borough, before securing a move to League Two side Barnet in January 2008, and he got his Football League career off to a flying start as he scored the opener in a 2-1 win away at Hereford on his debut for the Bees.

Following five goals in 22 appearances by the end of the season, he carried on his impressive performances in his first full campaign in north London, turning out 49 times, in which he managed to find the net on 10 occasions, resulting in him picking up the club`s Young Player of the Year award.

Unsurprisingly, interest came Barnet`s way, and they rejected a number of bid`s for his services, and with his deal set to expire at the end of the 2009/2010 campaign, a contract extension was offered in November 2009, only to be rejected by the Adomah, who set his sights on playing at a higher level.

His five goals in 49 games helped the club stave off relegation, but they were powerless to prevent Adomah moving on, with a three-year deal at Championship side Bristol City agreed at the end of his contract, with Barnet receiving a compensation fee of around £150,000 due to him being under 24.

He quickly became a fan`s favourite at Ashton Gate, seamlessly adapting to the higher level of football, and his first season with the club ended on a personal high as he was named as the Player of the Year after five goals in 48 games, resulting in a new three-year deal set to expire in 2014.

Eligible to play for the Ghanaian national team, Adomah was called up to the squad for the first time for a friendly against Brazil in September 2011 at Craven Cottage, in which he featured from the bench to receive the first of his 18 caps for the Black Stars, for whom he has notched two goals.

Having finished just above the dropzone in the 2011/2012 season, which included a further five goals for Adomah in 47 matches, his seven goals in 41 games the following campaign could not help Bristol City retain their Championship status, as they finished bottom, and were relegated to the third tier.

A transfer request from the now Ghanaian international soon followed, and having been left out of the squad for the opening two games of the new campaign, a move to Middlesbrough was secured for a fee in the region of £1million, after 137 appearances and 17 goals during his time in Bristol.

The 2013/2014 season saw his best goalscoring return to date, as he notched 12 goals in 43 matches, resulting in a call-up to the Ghana squad for the World Cup in Brazil, during which he made one appearance from the bench against the USA, as the side failed to progress from their group.

Adomah`s rise from non-league football almost saw him become a Premier League player last May, as he featured 51 times for Boro on their way to the Championship play-off final, contributing six goals, before they went down 2-0 to Norwich at Wembley thanks to two goals within 15 minutes.

Last season also saw pictures emerge of Adomah at Loftus Road purchasing a QPR kit, with his name on the back, before wearing the shirt in a local KFC, having grown up watching the club, but he`ll be doing everything in his power to ensure he leaves Shepherd`s Bush with the three points tonight.