Source: Northern_Echo
Southgate decides against striker move
HAVING pondered his sides attacking options in the wake of Caleb Folans hamstring injury, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has decided not to sign another striker on loan.[LNB] Folan is expected to be out for at least another month after tearing his hamstring in training ten days ago, and with just Leroy Lita, Jeremie Aliadiere and Marvin Emnes to choose from in terms of attacking resources, Southgate hinted he could enter the loan market to plug the gap.[LNB] The Boro boss discussed the situation with his coaching staff on Monday, but with the international break lessening the impact of Folans absence, Southgate has decided to stick with the players currently at his disposal.[LNB] The manager has discussed it with all the staff,[LNB] said first-team coach Steve Agnew. Caleb is going to be out for a few weeks, but hes a quick healer and hes never had a hamstring injury before.[LNB] Hes a fit boy, so he could be quicker in terms of healing than we think. And, of course, we dont have a game for two weeks anyway.[LNB] We spoke about all of those things, and decided a loan striker wouldnt be something we would be taking forward at the moment.[LNB] Litas form has also influenced Boros thinking. The former Reading striker produced his best display since moving to Teesside when he returned to the Madejski Stadium last weekend, and Football League officials last night confirmed he had been awarded the first goal of Boros 2-0 win as well as the second.[LNB] Sean St Ledgers header brushed Litas shoulder on the way into the net, and Agnew feels the strikers desperation to claim the goal spoke volumes.[LNB] Leroy couldnt wait to tell everybody that hed got a touch on the first goal, he said. Hes a goalscorer, and it was pleasing to see him on the scoresheet again.[LNB] I think hes a natural goalscorer, and I think hell continue to score goals all season.[LNB] The difficulty so far has been that he came in without a pre-season. That gives you a base fitness for the rest of the season and, initially, he didnt have that.[LNB] He missed all that, but hes caught up during games. Finally, I see him in training now and he looks sharper and fitter. He got his rewards for that at the weekend.[LNB]
