Will Lankshear's debut strike ensured Middlesbrough made a winning start to the season as they beat Wrexham 1-0 in the Carabao Cup first round. Lankshear, a £10 million summer signing from Tottenham Hotspur, scored the only goal of the game in the 61st minute as he hooked home an excellent first-time volley after a cushioned header from another debutante, United States midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.

Middlesbrough almost claimed a seventh-minute opener, but while Adilson Malanda prodded Berhalter's cross goalwards from close range, Danny Ward kept the ball out with a superb point-blank save. Lankshear came close with an effort curled just over the bar at the start of the second half, but the 21-year-old did not have to wait too much longer for his first goal in a Boro shirt.

Leo Castledine headed Jeremy Sarmiento's cross into Lankshear's path, and the striker swivelled neatly before hooking a superb first-time volley into the far corner. Boro almost doubled their lead with three minutes remaining, but Morgan Whittaker's low strike rebounded off the post. Alongside Berhalter, Middlesbrough also handed a debut to fellow U.S. international Max Arfsten.