Southgate content with Alves
28 Mar 2008 - 10:56:52
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- Southgate content with Alves
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has stated that he will not be pressured into handing Afonso Alves a starting spot due to his big-money price-tag.
The 27-year-old Brazil international, who cost £12million when he joined from Heerenveen in January, has failed to find the net in seven appearances for Boro, with four of those coming from the bench.
Southgate commented: "He's hardly had any time on the field for us, really. When you bring a player in for that sort of fee, it immediately attracts a lot more attention.
"Tuncay Sanli was a free and Jeremie Aliadiere was £2million and that doesn't carry the weight of expectation for them.
"But in training and when I'm picking the team, I don't view them any differently just because one has come for a large sum of money. We treat them all the same and pick the team on the same basis.
"I know it's going to take him time, I said that from the day we signed him and nothing has changed in that respect. I'm quite comfortable with that situation."