SCOTT Parker says he was "impressed" by the performance of full debutant Ethan Laird against Middlesbrough.

The 20-year-old was a surprise starter at right-back and played the full 90 minutes of the 0-0 draw at Vitality Stadium.

Laird featured regularly for Swansea City during the first half of this season, during his loan spell from Manchester United.

However, the youngster switched south Wales for south England during the January transfer window.

Laird's last start prior to facing Boro came on December 11, more than four months ago, when he was forced off injured in Swansea's 4-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest.

After suffering setbacks in his recovery and taking time to adapt to Parker's training methods, Laird came off the bench in successive matches against Stoke and Preston.

However, after featuring at Deepdale on March 5, Laird was not even named as part of the matchday squad for six of the subsequent seven fixtures.

But with Jordan Zemura ruled out injured, Parker opted to switch Adam Smith over to left-back, with Laird slotting in at right-back to face Chris Wilder's Boro.

Discussing Laird's performance on his first start for the club, Parker told the Daily Echo: "I thought he did very well. I was impressed with him to be fair.

"Over the last three or four weeks I feel like he’s probably come out the other side of where he was and then the injury and probably not been up to speed and not done enough work with us.

"Decided to go with Ethan today and I thought he defended very well.

"Also attacking wise he gives us a real threat as well, so I was pleased for him."

Parker added: "It was very pleasing that he’s got through 90 as well, so that was good."