Aidan Morris’ return to full fitness and being a key cog in Middlesbrough’s midfield has certainly helped the club in its promotion quest.

Morris has started in each of Middlesbrough’s last 12 matches in all competitions as Kim Hellberg’s squad remain in the top-two of the EFL Championship. The American midfielder overcame a one-month absence last fall, picking up where he left off as a consistent starter for the club.

Middlesbrough are riding high in 2026, winning seven league matches in comparison to only losing twice in Championship play. Hellberg has been a positive hire for Boro, winning 11 of his 19 matches in charge since taking over for Rob Edwards in late-November.

Morris’ continued run of strong performances have been noticeable to Hellberg, leading to the Swedish manager’s latest bit of praise for the 24-year-old.

“He has impressed me with the way he’s always brave on the ball and always wants the ball,” Hellberg said Thursday in his prematch press conference. “It doesn’t matter where we play, he’ll never hide from anything. I love that ambition of a player to always be brave.

“He’s brave in never hiding, always trying to help his friends and always trying to find solutions,” Hellberg added. “Then his pressing ability and his ability to move all over the place connected with always wanting to be brave and playing the ball is a very good combination which suits the way I’m wanting to play.”

With 31 appearances under his belt already this season, Morris is on pace to set a new career-high in a single season as Boro push to earn promotion back to the English Premier League.

A strong second half of the season to date also has Morris in line for a potential U.S. men’s national team call up later this month for international friendlies against Portugal and Belgium.

Should Middlesbrough finish the job and seal a spot into the top-flight, Morris will be among those credited for a stellar job well done in his second campaign abroad.