Southgate eager to keep Johnson

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has reiterated his determination to hang on to England Under-21 international winger Adam Johnson. The 22-year-old midfielder has played a key role in Boro's encouraging start to life in the Coca-Cola Championship. However, Johnson is out of contract at the end of the season and talks over a new deal in the last six months have failed as yet to reach a successful conclusion. "I want him to be here, it's as simple as that, and the football club want him to be here," said Southgate. "We have been in talks for a long period of time. Adam wanted the opportunity to play, as much as anything, and all the time Stewart was here he felt he wasn't getting that opportunity to play. "That path is clear for him now, so it allows us to sit down and talk a bit more logically about everything and those discussions are ongoing with Adam and his family."