Source: Northern_Echo
Boro are well aware of Graham?s theat
GARETH SOUTHGATE has tasked his defenders to ensure that another Middlesbrough old boy doesnt return to punish his former club tomorrow afternoon.
Chris Brunts brace for West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside last month set up a 5-0 demolition of Southgates side and left them to rue the return another player who has flourished since leaving Teesside.
The arrival Watford striker Danny Graham, like Brunt another Boro Academy product, has put Boros back four on alert as they seek to prevent their former colleague from causing another embarrassment.
Gateshead-born Graham has scored six times this season after moving from Carlisle and is the type of powerful frontman that Boro have been crying out for the last two seasons.
He will offer central defensive partnership Sean St Ledger and David Wheater plenty to think about as they play the first of two home games in four days.
Amid criticism from supporters that too many homegrown players have been allowed to leave the club Southgate has recently attempted to put the record straight about why he sanctioned the sale of the likes of Lee Cattermole.
And he was keen to point out that when Graham was released two years ago the former England Under-20 cap was struggling to make an impression at first team level.
At the time Danny left we were a Premier League club and we had Mark Viduka and Yakubu here so I dont think there was the opportunity for him, said Southgate who will hand Jeremie Aliadiere a fitness test after the Frenchman picked up a slight ankle injury in training yesterday.
Danny understood that chances were limited and he has grown up since he left us.
He always looked like a goalscorer when he was here in the reserves and this is probably his level at the moment and he is doing very well.
But you cant keep hold of everybody on the off chance that they might come through. You have to make those decisions and I dont think that Danny would have progressed in the way that he has without going to Carlisle.
Most of our lads should know him and there shouldnt be any surprises.
I am pleased to see how well he has done but I wont be too pleased if he scores on Saturday mind you!
Southgate will check on the fitness of Rhys Williams after the youngster endured long haul trips on international duty with Australia, despite not being selected to play in either games against Holland or Oman.
It is frustrating to see him go all that way and not play but it was his choice to make himself eligible to play for Australia rather than Wales and we live with that, he said. We had the situation with Mark Schwarzer but he was an experienced keeper and it was perhaps easier for him to recover from international duty whereas we dont know what condition Rhys will be in. But we have Julio Arca and Didier Digard to come in if required.
Fans are being urged to back Boro as the promotion-chasers face two key home games, against Watford and Derby County, in the space of four days.
Watford visit tomorrow at 3pm and Derby County on Tuesday, kick-off 8pm.
Seats can be booked for both, as well as the following home match with Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, October 31 (3pm).
Family tickets (one adult, one under-18) are available in blocks 44 and 46 of the East Stand for each game priced £27, while general sale family tickets are £34. Prices for Boro Pride members including all 2008-09 Season Card holders who did not renew are £8 (under-18s) and from £14 (18-21s and over-65s) and £21 (adults). General sale prices are £13 (under-18s) and from £16 (over-65s) and £23 (adults). Seats can be booked 24 hours online at mfc.co.uk.
