Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is thrilled with the newly-discovered form of Tuncay Sanli.
Southgate admitted: "We still have a way to go with him. He had a few difficult games with Turkey earlier this season - a bad result against Greece, long flights and travelling back for the weekend, which left him slightly below par for us. A couple of times I did not include him in the starting line-up because of the week's events with Turkey, so it has taken him a while to get on the scoresheet.
"It is difficult to pigeon-hole him as an 'X' type of player.
"He is quite a free spirit. He played a lot in midfield areas in Turkey and now we are playing him in a free role up front, so it is difficult to pin him down as this or that type of player.
"In a sense, we are playing him off a striker, but he is not a Teddy Sheringham type.
"He's not a Juninho type really, because he does not dribble in that way. But he has elements in his game which have bits and pieces of those in. He can score with his head, with volleys. There is plenty in there - and plenty still to come out.
"I am delighted for him because he has a great enthusiasm for the game and that is what our fans have warmed to. Yes, they are delighted he is scoring. But his enthusiasm has shone through and it is easy for them to see how much he cares.
"His team-mates are now seeing the full quality he has."
Boro are slowly but surely pulling themselves away from the danger zone.
And Tuncay said: "I like the struggle, the fight and to play with my heart - and I think this league suits my playing style best. "It isn't easy playing in the Premier League, but day by day I'm getting used to the different style of football.
"If you are a talented player - which I believe I am - then there is no reason why you cannot change countries and achieve big success."
