Southgate takes heart from Bates progress

29 May 2009 14:26
Matthew Bates' emergence from his injury misery is one of a handful of positives Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has been able to take from a disastrous season. The 22-year-old utility man has undergone three bouts of cruciate ligament surgery in the last two and a half years, leaving many doubting he would ever be able to fulfil the promise he showed in helping Boro win the FA Youth Cup in 2004. However, Bates started all but one of the club's last 14 games of an ill-fated campaign, initially as an emergency central midfielder, but eventually in his more accustomed position at the heart of the back four to confirm his return to full fitness. Southgate said: "One of the most pleasing things for me was to see Matthew Bates come back from his three cruciate injuries and start to build a career, really, because there was a long period where everybody had to question whether he would play at the top level again. "But he has done that, which is brilliant for him."

Source: Eurosport