Middlesbrough’s attacking options were severely reduced in January when Emmanuel Latte Lath was sold to Atlanta United, with the club opting not to recruit a permanent replacement at the time.
There is a strong desire to sign a new forward this summer, with Boro officials having held talks with free agent Danny Ings as well as another couple of attacking targets.
However, whatever happens in terms of the transfer market this summer, Edwards accepts there will be a need for flexibility in the final third. With that in mind, he regards Burgzorg and Forss’ attacking versatility as a major asset.
“TC (Conway) is someone we see as an out-an-out nine, whereas Della (Burzgorg) and Marcus are a bit different,” said the Boro boss, who will lead his side back in pre-season friendly action when they travel to Bradford City on Wednesday night.
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“They can probably flip between any of the three positions across that last line. We had to flip it around a bit in the second half (of Saturday’s friendly draw at Mansfield) for various reasons. We used them both in a couple of different ways, and we think they’re both capable of doing that.”
Forss was a half-time substitute at Mansfield, replacing Conway, while Burgzorg came onto the field shortly after the hour mark to replace Morgan Whittaker.
Forss, who was initially signed by Boro as a centre-forward before being moved to the right wing under Michael Carrick, played through the middle for the early part of the second half, with Edwards sticking with the three-man defensive formation he fielded before the break.
Then, when Burgzorg came onto the field, the Boro boss switched to a flat back four and stationed the Dutchman as the central striker.
“Della looked a real threat in the central area, getting in behind on the counter-attack,” he said. “We know he’s got that speed.
“You’d like him to have taken one of those chances and then it’s probably a different result. But it’s positive that the two of those boys have the attributes to play any of those positions.”