Source: Northern_Echo
Mowbray quick to quash Woodgate rumours
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Tony Mowbray has played down speculation linking him with a loan move for Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate.[LNB] Reports have suggested the 30-year-old could be on his way back to the Riverside Stadium after Spurs manager Harry Redknapp revealed he would let him go out on loan to regain match-fitness.[LNB] "It's news to me - we will wait and see what January brings," Mowbray said.[LNB] "Anybody who takes Woodgate would expect him to play and whilst (David) Wheater and (Matthew) Bates are here it would be difficult for me to bring in a loan player and disappoint one of our own players. Loans are always difficult.[LNB] "It's not something at the moment that I'm working on, but I know Woodgate was a big success as a player here."[LNB] Woodgate would be seen as an ideal replacement for David Wheater, who added to his growing stock with the third goal in Boro's 3-1 victory at bottom club Preston today.[LNB] The 23-year-old will be out of contract at the end of the season and Mowbray did little to quash reports of a January move away from the club.[LNB] "Wheater is on everybody's lips at the moment. He scored again and it was another super performance from the young man," he added.[LNB] "Wheater is too valuable an asset for us to let him walk away on a free in summer. We are in a situation which isn't ideal because you can see the connection he has with our supporters.[LNB] "Let's wait and see what January brings."[LNB] Leroy Lita scored twice as Boro secured only their second away win of the season at Deepdale and Mowbray was relieved to secure a much-needed three points.[LNB] "I'm pleased with the win of course, I think there was enough good play in there to warrant it," said Mowbray.[LNB] "We must give them a lot of credit; they didn't look like a team that was bottom of the league and they played some nice fluent football and created some chances.[LNB] "But when the game went on they had to chase it and they looked more vulnerable and disheartened and we could have scored a few more at the end.[LNB] "It was a professional performance from us in a game we needed to win, we came here and did the job."[LNB]
