Michael Carrick reveals Cameron Archer injury scare as Aston Villa man hits brace

Aston Villa loan star Cameron Archer was in the goals again for Middlesbrough, hitting a brilliant brace as his former club Preston were thrashed 4-0.

Archer scored his fifth and sixth goals of his loan spell as Boro kept up the pressure on Sheffield United in the race for the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship. Archer struck twice in a six-minute spell after half-time at the Riverside. First, he showed wonderful footwork inside the box before firing high into the net. His second goal, Boro’s third, was a clinical low drive from the edge of the box.

Out of respect for Preston, where he spent the second half of last season, Archer’s celebrations were mooted. After the game, Boro boss Michael Carrick revealed the striker had been an injury doubt after picking up an ankle knock in training.

“He actually got a roll of the ankle yesterday and was touch and go,” said Carrick, reported TeesideLive. “He had a late fitness test today, so credit to him that he was desperate to play. We took him off in the end, more as a precaution and hopefully he is alright.

“He loves scoring goals, as strikers do, and feeds off that. But even when he hasn’t scored his performances have been good anyway and we’ve still scored goals throughout the team. It was a good day for Cam though and it was nice to see him score a couple.”