The Super Eagles hopeful scored his second brace in three matches for Boro and was eulogised by a Manchester United star.
Former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has hailed Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom following his latest match-winning performance for Boro.
Akpom was at his imperious best as he wrote his name in Boro history books with a brace against Reading in the Championship on Saturday.
The Super Eagles hopeful netted a goal in either half as Boro demolished Reading at home to continue their push for promotion.
Akpom’s goals made him the first player since Bernie Slaven in the 1989/90 season to score 20 goals for Boro in the league.
Carrick praises Akpom for Boro feat
Akpom scored his second brace in three matches to help Boro return to winning ways after their defeat last time.
The goals were the 20th and 21st of the season for the former Arsenal striker which saw him become the first Boro player in 33 years to score 20 or more league goals for the club.
Akpom’s latest performance has been described as “terrific” and “fantastic” by his manager, Carrick, who praised the forward after the game.
"It's a terrific achievement," said Carrick per the Northern Echo. "It's not easy to score that many goals. He's scored all different type of goals for us since I've been here."
"I thought his performance was fantastic. He gets credit for his goals but his performance all-round was terrific. And because we have threats in different areas, he ends up getting a bit more space. To score that many goals, hopefully he can carry on and set a new target for himself."
Akpom gives up second Boro hat-trick
Meanwhile, having scored a brace in the game, Akpom could have added to his tally on the day when Boro won a penalty late on in the game.
However, he passed on the chance to get his second hat-trick of the campaign to his teammate, Marcus Forss, a gesture that Boro boss Carrick says shows how much of a team player Akpom is.
"It's just being a team player, credit to him for that. Not many would have done that, but he understands it's about the squad, all the boys being in a good frame of mind," Carrick added.
"His first penalty was a good one and it would have been easy for him to grab it but he understands how grateful Marcus was to have a chance to score."