Gordon Strachan sees similarities in Will Lankshear's importance to Middlesbrough as Robert Lewandowski with Poland

Gordon Strachan believes Will Lankshear can be a figurehead - in much the same way Robert Lewandowski is for Poland - who drives Middlesbrough back to the Premier League.

The legendary Polish striker helped his country qualify for consecutive World Cups after a 12-year absence from the competition, while they also played at five consecutive European Championship finals having never previously qualified for one.

Lewandowski was an inspirational figure for Poland during that period, and Strachan believes Lankshear can be a similar talisman for Boro - while in no way comparing the summer signing from Tottenham to the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich star in terms of quality or potential.

Lankshear has enjoyed an excellent start at Boro, netting 11 goals in his first 14 games for the club.

He rubberstamped his importance at the weekend when, having been rested by Kim Hellberg for the Cardiff City game, he was required from the bench at half-time to help inspire Boro’s comeback draw from 2-0 down.

Former Boro boss Strachan told Boylesports: “Will Lankshear is big, strong, and has a great goalscoring instinct.

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“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. 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.”

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