Southgate stands by Shawky
18 Dec 2007 - 07:45:37
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- Southgate stands by Shawky
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has backed midfielder Mohamed Shawky to prove his worth in the coming months, having struggled to make his mark to date.
The 26-year-old Egypt international has made just one appearance for Boro since his £650,000 move from Al-Ahly, but Southgate has backed Shawky to be a success at the Riverside.
He told the club's official website: "It's frustrating for him not to have been given an opportunity, but that will come.
"He understands he is here not just for a couple of months, but for the longer term, and he wants to know all the time what he has to do to get into the side, which is great.
"He is very keen to make a success of his move to England and these things take time.
"He has only been here a couple of months and it has been a very difficult period for the team. I haven't felt it right to put him in yet and he totally understands that.
"We are very pleased with what he has done up to now. We think he's getting stronger and improving all the time. He is just having to be a bit patient.
"We think he is adjusting very well. He realises that as a strong player in the league he was playing in, that does not necessarily follow into the Premier League, because it is a different style."