Will Lankshear, the 21-year-old forward who recently joined Middlesbrough from Tottenham Hotspur in a £20 million transfer, became the first player to be affected by the English Football League’s (EFL) new substitution rule during Friday’s Carabao Cup match against Wrexham.

Lankshear scored the only goal in the 1-0 victory but encountered difficulties with a regulation introduced this season designed to curb time-wasting during player changes. The rule requires players being substituted to exit the field within ten seconds. Failure to do so results in the replacement being held off until the next stoppage after 60 seconds have passed, effectively leaving the team with one fewer player temporarily.

In the 81st minute, roughly 20 minutes after his impressive overhead kick goal, Lankshear was taken off, but his slow departure caused a delay in the introduction of his substitute, Fin Cartwright. Middlesbrough briefly found themselves playing with ten men while the substitution process was completed. Manager Kim Hellberg appeared to be aware of the regulation as he urged Lankshear to expedite his exit from the pitch.

Speaking after the match, Lankshear acknowledged his unfamiliarity with the new amendment. “I didn’t know! I haven’t been in the referee meetings at the start of the year because I came from Tottenham. I now know to get off the pitch a lot quicker!” he said.

The new EFL substitution rule forms part of efforts to maintain the flow of matches and minimize deliberate delay tactics during substitutions. Lankshear’s experience highlights the adjustment period players may face as the regulation becomes standard across competitions.