Source: Northern_Echo
Fry confirms Boro interested in Boyd
PETERBOROUGH director of football Barry Fry has confirmed that Middlesbrough have made a renewed attempt to sign George Boyd, and admitted that the attacking midfielder could be allowed to leave London Road in the next couple of weeks.[LNB] Posh officials turned down Boro's £1.5m offer for Boyd during last month's transfer window, but Gordon Strachan is hoping to set up a loan arrangement that will enable the 24-year-old to move to Teesside on a short-term basis, ahead of a permanent switch in the summer.[LNB] Talks between the two parties are ongoing and, while Fry remains hopeful of retaining Boyd's services to assist with Peterborough's ongoing survival battle, he accepts the Scotland B international is edging towards the exit door.[LNB] We are still in touch with Middlesbrough about him,[LNB] confirmed Fry. But George was informed of the interest and was happy to stay and play for us.[LNB] Boro were one of a number of clubs who inquired about George in January. They made a bid which was rejected by the chairman because he wanted to keep all his best players to give us the best chance of avoiding relegation.[LNB] We have had several discussions with George's agent regarding a new contract, but he has consistently made it clear that George would not be signing an extension.[LNB] To be fair to George, he has been a model professional throughout his time here. He has been a great player and a great servant, but if the manager believes he can build a side without George, that might be the way we go.[LNB] Meanwhile, Middlesbrough midfielder Josh Walker has been told by Strachan he is not part of his long-term plans.[LNB] The England Under-20 captain has been frustrated by a lack of first team opportunities since the Scot arrived on Teesside and recently held clear-the-air talks with Strachan, where the Boro boss told him he could leave.[LNB] Walker, who still has 18 months left on his contract, nearly joined Notts County in the summer, but the Midlands side could not match Boro's asking fee.[LNB] Leeds United and Hartlepool have been monitoring Walker's situation, but he is expected to join Rotherham, on loan for the rest of the season, after manager Ronnie Moore contacted Middlesbrough last night.[LNB] Boro skipper Gary O'Neil has received assurances that he will not cause any longterm damage by playing through the pain barrier caused by his injured groin.[LNB] O'Neil has been nursing a groin problem for the majority of the past month, yet the recent 1-0 win over Peterborough witnessed his only absence in Boro's last 12 matches.[LNB] With Strachan desperately trying to secure a midfield replacement for the departed Adam Johnson, the former Portsmouth midfielder has agreed to continue playing despite his injury concerns.[LNB] And while his injury is being protected between matches, he is confident he will not cause any lasting damage by making himself available for selection.[LNB] It's just a small tear in the groin muscle, said O'Neil, who has formed a combative central midfield partnership with new arrival Barry Robson in recent weeks.[LNB] I've spoken to the physios, and the worst case scenario is that I over-stretch it badly and am out for three weeks. It's not a massive problem.[LNB] It's not really right, but I knew I was going to play against Nottingham Forest because we're a little bit short. There wasn't really much point testing it before kick off I would only have been testing it to see how bad it was going to be.[LNB]
