Middlesbrough striker Lee Dong-Gook is unlikely to feature for the club again, according to boss Gareth Southgate.

Lee has looked out of his depth at Premier League level, scoring his only two goals in cup competitions since moving from Pohang Steelers 18 months ago.

He has also become a hate-figure for Boro fans, who have jeered him when brought on the pitch.

"Obviously he hasn't been in the first-team squad for a little while," Southgate told the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette. "It's been difficult for him in that I think he has not played as well as we might have hoped.

"But I think he has been getting a lot of stick and it's very difficult, especially at home, when I put him on.

"It's difficult for him to have any sort of a chance. For him and for the team I think it's been better to involve other players really."

Southgate then made it clear that the South Korea international would only be given an opportunity if his fellow strikers do badly or pick up injuries.

"As for him playing again this season it depends on how the other strikers are doing really," he continued of the 28-year-old, who had a failed spell with Werder Bremen seven years ago.

"We've obviously only got five games to go and I'm hopeful that the strikers we've got perform between now and the end of the season and score the goals that we want them to."

Boro lie 14th in the Premier League, five points clear of the drop with five games remaining.

Reda Maher / SportingLife / Eurosport