Source: Northern_Echo
Bates is back for Boro
GORDON Strachan cannot wait to welcome Matthew Bates back into the first-team fold when Middlesbrough's squad reconvenes for a summer training session on Saturday.[LNB] The majority of Middlesbrough's players will travel to La Manga this weekend for a seven-day session designed to ensure they are in peak condition for the start of pre-season training in July.[LNB] Bates will be a member of the party that meets up in Spain, having finally completed his recovery from the knee ligament injury that ruled him out of the whole of last season.[LNB] The 23-year-old's last competitive outing came in May 2009, but Strachan is hoping the versatile midfielder will play an important role in his plans for next term.[LNB] Matthew will be right back into it this summer, and one of the reasons we're doing this training is to get people like Matt and Seb Hines into the swing of things, said the Boro boss.[LNB] They're already joining in to a certain extent, but it will be brilliant to get them back properly. If Matthew Bates is half as good as he tells me he is, then he'll be some player![LNB] Bates was one of Boro's most impressive performers as they were relegated from the Premier League in 2009.[LNB] Despite having started his career as a defender, he caught the eye at the heart of midfield as the Teessiders failed to retain their topflight status.[LNB] Former boss Gareth Southgate expected him to be a crucial part of Boro's anticipated promotion push last season, only to have to redraw his plans when Bates ruptured his cruciate ligaments during a pre-season friendly at Carlisle.[LNB] It was the fourth time he had suffered such an injury, and Strachan feels his refusal to throw in towel confirms a drive and commitment that sets him apart from many of his peers.[LNB] I always say to people who take knocks early in their career, Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger',[LNB] said the Scotsman, who is likely to be joined in Spain by incoming coaches Gary McAllister and Jim Blyth, as well as new signing from Livingston Andy Halliday. Matthew's had a few, that's for sure.[LNB] But I can usually tell a lot about people just from speaking to them and watching them in training, and I can tell his character. However hard he feels something is, his character says, I'm not packing in'.[LNB] He's behind everybody with hard running, but when I watched him with the others towards the end of the season, the thing I really admired is that he didn't give in.[LNB] His body was just about ready to pack in, but his mind didn't allow him to stop.[LNB] That's a great thing. Too many people let their minds pack in before their body.[LNB] Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have included two England youth internationals among their latest intake of 11 Academy scholars.[LNB] Sunderland-born Jake Fowler, who has played for England Under-16s and Under-17s, and former Darlington Longfield Comprehensive School pupil Adam Jackson, who helped England Under-16s win this year's Victory Shield, head a list of school leavers who will join up with Boro's Academy from July 1.[LNB] Both players are rated as outstanding prospects by Curtis Fleming and Paul Jenkins, the Academy coaches who have worked with them during them the last 12 months.[LNB] The other players joining the Academy at Rockliffe Park are Curtis Edwards (Middlesbrough), Lewis Galpin (Hebburn), Michael Roberts (Chester-le-Street), Jake McCormick (York), Lewis Sirrell (Thornaby), Matthew Waters (Thornaby), Wilson Kneeshaw (Darlington), Jarrett Rivers (Spennymoor) and Adam Reach (Gateshead).[LNB] The offer of a scholarship with Middlesbrough is a real career opportunity for these lads, said Academy director Dave Parnaby.[LNB] The transition from schoolboy to full-time employee is something that will test them all, but all our staff will support them.[LNB] We view it as very much a partnership between player, parent and club to ensure they have the best possible chance of realising their potential.[LNB]
