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Adam Reach is no longer knocking quietly at Middlesbrough FC's first-team door - he's almost barging it down.

The winger has emerged from the Boro wilderness and thrived in the Preston spotlight, after seemingly falling out of favour on Teesside.

But now, back at the Riverside following the end of his loan spell , Reach is hoping for a pre-season chance. And I think he deserves it.

Can a player not considered good enough for Boro in the Championship this season be good enough to feature in the Premier League next year? It seems a difficult argument to construct.

But the time is now for Reach to resurrect his Riverside career.

Let's rewind a couple of years, to a time when the former England Under-20s wide man was one of the team's most exciting players.

Let's not scoff at that fact. At the beginning of last season, Reach was considered one of the hottest prospects outside of the top-flight - with nine Premier League sides reportedly keeping tabs on him.

That interest saw him sign a new four-year Boro contract only two months later.

His form dipped in the second half of last season, perhaps understandable for a young 22-year-old, but he was still a regular. Karanka trusted him - and so did the team.

Many thought the Chester-le-Street-born wide man was a tad unfortunate to lose his place earlier this season, but for one reason or another, Boro looked elsewhere.

poll loading Does Adam Reach have a long-term Boro future? 7000+ VOTES SO FAR YES NO

With the summer acquisitions of Stewart Downing, Diego Fabbrini and Cristhian Stuani, not to mention the deadline day arrival of Carlos de Pena, it became glaringly obvious that there was no room left at the Boro Inn.

Reach had to go.

It was inevitable that he moved away on loan, and Preston rubbed their hands together in glee as they managed to lure the midfielder to Deepdale.

Boro's loan stars Who will leave and who will return this summer

Preston boss Simon Grayson has since gone on record to admit he was amazed that he managed to pull off the deal.

I think some Boro fans were amazed to see him leave - a local lad who had shown signs of brilliance, but in truth, also signs of inconsistency.

Being shown the Riverside exit door, albeit on a short-term loan , must have been tough for the player. In a matter of months, he had fallen down the pecking order at such a rapid pace.

But Reach's Boro career hasn't been plain sailing, full stop, ever since he first caught the eye while at Gateshead College as a 17-year-old.

Read more Adam Reach still has a Boro future, insists Aitor Karanka

Reach was among the first students to be accepted onto the college’s Academy for Sport programme, set up in 2009 to nurture youngsters who had been released from professional clubs.

He was one of only 24 to be originally selected, and improved his football skills while studying towards a BTEC national diploma in Performance and Excellence.

It was while playing for Gateshead College when Reach was spotted by Boro’s scouts early in 2010, and the winger went on to enrol on the club’s own scholarship programme following a successful trial.

And it’s been quite a journey ever since. Reach’s train bound to Riverside Central has had a few delays over the last few years, briefly stopping at Darlington Parkway, Shrewsbury South, Bradford North - and most recently - Preston North End.

'Now it feels like he's at the end of the line'

But now it feels like he's at the end of the line. It does feel like it's now or never for Reach at Boro.

That's why he deserves a pre-season chance. Yes, Boro are preparing for a Premier League baptism of fire - their first season back in the top-flight.

Read more How Adam Reach has kick-started his career at Preston

It's been a hard, long road for the club since relegation from the Premier League - and nobody wants to surrender that without a fight.

But football is all about giving players a chance, and in turn, the players taking that chance.

(Image: PA Wire)

Case in point, Marcus Rashford. Had an injury crisis not hit at Old Trafford, he would never have been in the Manchester United matchday squad - never mind start.

Now he's at Euro 2016, part of a 23-man England squad looking to make history. He's only just old enough to buy a beer.

Look down the years at players who have been given a chance. Gareth Bale was once the laughing stock of Tottenham, a curse who seemed to bring nothing but defeat on Spurs every time he started.

Now, he's a double Champions League winner, the toast of the Bernabeu and slowly playing his way into the Real Madrid Hall of Fame.

Reach may have been likened to Bale by one of his Preston teammates this season, but in all seriousness, nobody is predicting the Boro man will get anywhere near the Galactico's level.

But the comparison is high praise indeed , following a season of graft where Reach has rejuvenated his career and given himself more than a fighting chance to succeed.

Boro are not blessed in wide positions. I haven't seen anything from Cristhian Stuani or Carlos de Pena to suggest they are guaranteed starters in the Premier League next season, while Albert Adomah is entering unchartered territory.

'He's the most in-form winger on Boro's books'

Stewart Downing has been a proven competitor in the top-flight, but he may well find himself used more as a No 10 - his favoured position - next season.

So why shouldn't Reach be given an opportunity? I'd argue he's the most in-form winger on Boro's books right now.

Like every other player, Reach would have to prove himself. He would have to run through brick walls on the training ground and prove to both Aitor Karanka and Steve Agnew that he should pull on that Boro red in the Premier League next season.

But he deserves that audition, after his season at Preston. Surely no Boro fan would begrudge him that?

It may be the case that Reach leaves the Riverside this summer, that he simply doesn't fit into Karanka's blueprint or that Boro feel they have better alternatives by the time the season gets underway on August 13.

But right now, I am not overly-convinced by those alternatives.

After sanctioning Reach's loan move to Preston last summer, Karanka insisted the winger still had a Boro future.

"He knows he can be with us in one month, or maybe next season, as I trust him and I know he’ll have a bright future," the Spaniard said.

Will that 'bright future' be at Boro? The next few weeks will be telling.