Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick said teenage winger Ben Doak “needs managing”, defending his decision to substitute the 18-year-old in his side’s last game against Norwich City.
Boro had been leading the match 3-1, but conceded two late goals after Doak was taken off to draw the match 3-3.
Carrick’s side – who host Coventry City in the Championship on Saturday – are ninth in the Championship table.
Scotland international Doak, who joined Boro on a season-long loan from Liverpool in August, has played 12 times for club and country this season, the highest number of appearances in his senior career so far.
“Ben is one player of a squad,” Carrick told BBC Radio Tees. “He is 18 years old and he had a lot of months off injured last year.
“He hadn’t played a lot of senior football at all, he has played eight games in a row for us, so there is a lot of managing needed to be done,” he added.
Middlesbrough have won five of their 12 league games so far this season, but going further back into last term, they have lost only two of their last 12 home league games.
“We have got a good squad, plenty of other players are capable of playing,” said Carrick.
“We are delighted to have Ben, he has started really well.
“But he is young, we have got to look after him, we have got to take care of him at the right times through the season.”