Source: Northern_Echo
Southgate desperate to keep squad intact
GARETH SOUTHGATE accepts he will lose players between now and the end of the month, but the Middlesbrough manager insists that no members of last nights match-day squad are desperate to move.
Boro maintained their unbeaten start to life in the Championship with a solid 2- 0 win at Scunthorpe, where Adam Johnson scored both to increase interest in his services.
The left-winger, linked with a number of top-flight clubs, has scored three in two matches.
There was also a solid defensive display from the whole backline, with Aston Villa and Stoke interested in signing David Wheater and Robert Huth respectively.
While Southgate still hopes to offload Afonso Alves to Ajax and Tuncay Sanli before the end of August, the Middlesbrough boss believes the players who played last night are prepared to stick around.
I dont want to lose any in this squad, especially in respect of the good start we have had, said Southgate.
There will be players leaving the club I know that. We have had to get results while all of the speculation has been going on.
I said at the weekend that everyone had a point to prove, they all want to be here for the right reasons. They all want to get back into the Premier League.
Southgate experienced what it is like to win two successive league matches for the first time since the last two games of the 2007-08 season, when they secured wins over Portsmouth and Man City.
He added: It was a difficult place. We earned the right to play here and they can make life difficult for you. But its nice to have won two on our travels.
