My parents are butchers… now I’m looking to bring home the bacon for Boro vs Chelsea after already slaying Tottenham

11 months ago 59

THE SON of a butcher is hoping to bring home the bacon for Boro tonight by firing them to Carabao Cup glory.

Academy graduate Josh Coburn is looking to chop Chelsea down to size when they travel to Middlesbrough for the semi-final first leg tonight at The Riverside.

Josh Coburn is hoping to fire Middlesbrough to glory against Chelsea[/caption]

And the striker, 21, has already made mincemeat of one Premier League club’s cup hopes.

Back in March 2022, the then 19-year-old scored the extra-time winner as Boro dumped Tottenham out of the FA Cup to fire them to a quarter-final showdown with today’s opponents Chelsea.

And even though that fairytale run – which also included a shoot-out victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford – was ultimately ended by the Blues, it is still a night that lives long in the memory for Coburn.

When asked previously if that was the highlight of his career, he said: “The very best. I don’t think I can top that.”

One thing is for certain, a matchwinner against Chelsea and helping seal a place in the Carabao Cup Final would undoubtedly top it.

But a potential Wembley appearance is all a far cry away from the hotshot’s family business.

The Bedale-born ace spent his entire childhood living in North Yorkshire, where his parents run a butcher’s shop in nearby Richmond.

Now he is more accustomed to high steaks on the footy field rather than the meat industry.

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Following that breakthrough campaign in the North East two years ago, the forward spent last season on loan at League One Bristol Rovers under the much-maligned Joey Barton.

He scored 10 goals in 35 appearances for The Gas and he looked set to spend another season out on loan ago.

However, after picking up an injury in pre-season, he remained at Boro and he has returned to become a key man under Michael Carrick.

The non-stop and bustling forward has led the line regularly over recent months, scoring five goals, and his manager is adamant that he will not be going anywhere during this transfer window as a number of clubs circle.

And he has been delighted with Coburn’s progress under him.

The Manchester United legend said: “Giving players the opportunity and the chance to see what they can do is important, it goes back to not being too judgemental on a week to week basis or over a month.

“It’s about trying to give the lads a chance over a period of time and Josh has improved so much since he came back in pre-season.

“Experience and game-time helps that, training with the boys, and naturally the age he’s at. He’s done really well and he came back from his injury particularly well.”