Middlesbrough Football Club News

• Nickname:Boro
• Founded:1876
• Manager:Tony Mowbray

• Ground:Riverside Stadium
• Capacity:35,049

Boro unable to strengthen

03 Feb 2009 - 10:05:32

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Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has admitted that he was unable to add to his squad before the transfer window slammed shut.

Reading midfielder James Harper was rumoured to be Boro's top target, after Crystal Palace schemer Ben Watson had opted to join Wigan Athletic instead of heading to the Riverside.

However, the Premier League strugglers were unable to finalise nay deals, leaving Southgate to soldier on with his youthful squad.

He said: "We looked to try to boost the squad, but we haven't been able to.

"It's hard, anyway, to bring players to the club because of the finances of other clubs.

"Obviously the league position is difficult, as is getting players other clubs don't want to sell."

One plus point for Southgate came with Josh Walker's return to action last weekend, with the midfielder having been expected to be out for several more weeks with an ankle injury.

He told the club's official website: "I had been working non-stop with the physios since the injury and always thought I had a chance for the Blackburn game with hard work."