Championship - Southgate looks local

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Jun 15:07:00 2009

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate wants to build a promotion challenge around local boys David Wheater and Matthew Bates.

FOOTBALL Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate, who said he wants to build a promotion challenge around local boys David Wheater and Matthew Bates - 0

Boro have indicated they will fend off Aston Villa's interest in Wheater - with the Midlands club rumoured to be preparing a £9 million cash-plus-player offer - while Bates has ended speculation over his future by signing a three-year contract extension.

That news came as a major boost to Southgate, who is confident the two Academy graduates are ready to take on the responsibility of dragging the club back into the Premier League at the first attempt.

He said: "Throughout the club people have to realise we have got a huge challenge on our hands if we want to win promotion this season.

"It's not going to be a case of just turning up and getting straight back up. It's going to be a scrap and we need people with a winning mentality who will embrace that challenge. I know Matthew has that mentality.

"We want the heartbeat of the club to be local boys and we feel the likes of Matthew and David Wheater can be the backbone of the side along with others like Brad Jones, who also came through the club's Academy.

"We have got other local lads too, of course, who will play a big part, though they might have to be patient in their development."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. Ross Turnbull proved himself at the start of last­ season and after one bad game southgate replaces him­ with brad jones, i really do not understand this and­ are sure this highly contributed to borough`s­ relegation, southgate is fast becoming a joke letting­ schwarzer go last season who had already proved himself­ to be one of the top goalkeepers in the premier league­ and now by coming very close to losing another, anyway­ good luck to Ross Turnbull in wherever his future lies­ and i hope that southgate comes to his senses very­ quickly.

    From cjsmidt, on Fri 26 Jun 9:19AM

  2. I agree with cjsmidt I would choose Turnbull everytime.­ I believe he wil move to a Prem club as an understudy­ andbecome a top keeper. He could do a good job at Boro­ if allowed. Dont be surprised to see him go to­ somewhere like Fulham.

    Up The Boro.

    From David S, on Thu 25 Jun 12:41AM

  3. heya cameron yeh i like johnson i think he is a mint­ player and he is local luckily enough so wud love to­ see him nettin a cupl

    From smiley123, on Wed 24 Jun 5:11PM

  4. Build a team that's good enough to stay in the­ Championship first.

    From Silver N, on Tue 23 Jun 11:05PM

  5. Sounds great in theory; wow a team of local lads,­ playing for the shirts!
    If he can pull it off then­ great, but are they good enough?
    I do like the boy­ Johnson, is he local?

    From cameron w, on Tue 23 Jun 10:01PM

  6. Why is brad jones number one choice over ross­ turnbull?­ brad jones is S~H~I~T~E

    From cjsmidt, on Tue 23 Jun 8:23PM

  7. Does the list of local boys include Johnson, Taylor,­ McMahon and of course Downing?

    From kht20, on Tue 23 Jun 4:59PM
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