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Boro boss still chasing Harper

Sat 12 Jul, 10:15 AM


Gareth Southgate will continue his search for new talent next week, with Middlesbrough's pursuit of Reading's James Harper ongoing.With Tuncay and record signing Alves now acclimatised, £6million striker Mido's return from a groin injury two stones lighter and raring to go has added fresh competition.

Southgate said: "We are still looking to strengthen, but we are very relaxed about the squad we have got.

"We feel that, with the age of the team, lots of them will improve this season again, and particularly our forwards.

"With Afonso only joining us in January and only really getting started in March, we feel there is a lot more to come from him.

"Tuncay took three or four months to settle in and got eight goals before the end of the season, and Mido is coming back in the sort of fitness he has is like a new signing.

"We only had him for eight or nine games last year, so there is lots more, we feel, to come from the squad we have got.

"We are trying as much as anything to change the way we work, three way we train.

"The accountability is on every member of staff and player to try to raise the level of our performance.

"We feel if we can change that environment as much as anything, that will be as important as the players we bring in."

Egypt international Mido managed only nine starts in his first season at the Riverside scoring in each of his first two games, and now faces a fight to displace either Tuncay or Alves with Jeremie Aliadiere having also impressed since his £2million switch from Arsenal.

The 25-year-old returned to Teesside having revealed he was the subject of an approach from former club Zamalek this summer.

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