From 14/1 for promotion into 11/4, Middlesbrough's appointment of Michael Carrick has proved to be a masterstroke.

Despite losing his opening game in charge at Preston, Carrick has taken to management like a duck to water, only losing at Burnley and Sunderland since, with only Burnley and Sheffield United taking more points than the Riverside club since his appointment, and a place in the top six (2/7) looking rather safe.

He's been aided significantly by the flying Chuba Akpom, whose 16 goals - four clear of second best Oscar Estupinan - have seen him cut from 150/1 for Top Goalscorer into 6/5 favourite.

Also on the up are Sheffield Wednesday, now unbeaten in 16 having beaten title rivals Plymouth - the last side to beat them incidentally - and are in from 4/1 to 8/13 for the title.

Meanwhile in Germany, the two Berlin clubs are having vastly different seasons, with Union still pushing Bayern at the top of the table, while Hertha are fighting to maintain their Bundesliga status.

Steve Freeth

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