Sat 28 Oct 06
Wrexham 2
Bristol Rovers 0
Goal

STRIKER Tom signed a two-year contract extension in June 2006 that commits him to the club until the summer of 2008.

The Darlington-born 19-year-old made his first team debut during the final 10 minutes of Boro's final Premier League game of the 2005-06 season, a 1-0 defeat at Fulham that saw Boro name 15 locally-born players among the starting line-up and substitutes.

Originally a defender, Tom has developed into a promising forward who has done well at youth and Reserve team levels.

He was the eighth member of Boro's 2004 FA Youth Cup-winning side to progress to first team level, following James Morrison, Tony McMahon, Andrew Taylor, David Wheater, Matthew Bates, Adam Johnson and Jason Kennedy.

He went on loan to Wrexham in October 2006 after hitting form for Boro Reserves and opened his scoring account with a late goal in a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers.

However, a knee injury picked up during the same game required extensive rehabilitation back at Middlesbrough and he returned to action for the Reserves late in the 2006-07 season.

Another loan spell, this time at Hartlepool, followed early in 2008 but opportunities were scarce and he returned to Boro after a month.