Will Lankshear interview after his two goals at Bolton helped Middlesbrough to a 5-1 victory

Will Lankshear didn’t feel he had any point to prove at Bolton, as he defended Kim Hellberg’s decision to rest him last weekend at Cardiff City.

In a decision that proved controversial, the star striker was needed from the bench in the game as he helped rescue a point for Middlesbrough with a goal.

Hellberg defended the decision after that game, however, insisting they have to look after the 21-year-old, having learned the lessons of over-using players last season.

Returning to the starting line-up on Friday evening at Bolton, Lankshear helped Boro to a massive 5-1 victory, as he took his season tally to an incredible 13 goals thanks to his brace.

Asked after about Hellberg's selection decision the week before, Lankshear said: “Of course, I'm a player who loves playing and wants to play every game.

“But I have people who care about me and look at the stats and data, and I have a manager who also cares. It's about staying on the pitch and contributing when I am on there.

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“I don't think there was a point to prove. I trust the manager's decisions 100%. The Championship is relentless and to play at the top end of the pitch, the fighting, the running, the demands are extremely high and I know the manager is trying to protect me all the time.

“I'll always respect his decisions. We have the squad to rotate and other players come in and not let the quality drop. Kyle Joseph is a really good nine, and he'll score us goals. If it's not me I'll support the boys. If I'm needed I'll always be ready and I'll never sulk. Because of how relentless the Championship is, you can't expect to play every single game.”

An answer of real maturity, it speaks volumes as to why the summer signing from Tottenham has quickly endeared himself to so many behind the scenes at Boro.

Make no mistake, however, his hunger for goals is huge. His answer on his incredible start to the season, where it was put to him how impressive it was to already have 13 goals, said it all.

“It’s 14 if you include the England Under-21s goal!” he said. “It's some start to be fair. I can't sit here and try to be humble.

“It's something I had my eyes on and worked extremely hard in the summer. I believed this was my year and I just want to keep going and keep scoring goals. I worked extremely hard, sacrificed a lot for this. It's not by luck I'd say.”

The standards he sets himself are very high, and it’s a mentality that goes a long way to explaining why he’s been so successful since joining Boro. Even after bagging two, he felt he should have had more.

But he also recognises that those around him make that possible, and he reserved special praise for Tommy Conway and Amario Cozier-Duberry as the forwards just behind him, providing him the service.

He said: “It probably could have been about 10. I should have really scored a few more but I thought the lads were outstanding. That's what we want to be and what we are. Hopefully we can build on this now.

“It's so enjoyable. I constantly have a smile on my face. It's a joy to watch at the top end of the pitch when the centre-halves are playing such good football, the wingers are getting on it and you have two top wingers in Tommy and Amario just feeding me the ball and I have to tap it in.

“I'm very lucky and honoured to be part of such a great team. As a striker I'll play offside and wait for our rapid wingers to get behind and tap the ball in. That's the sort of quality we have in this team. We have such good players and quality.”