Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan happy with his keepers
GORDON STRACHAN last night insisted there was no further news on Brad Jones' future, despite the Australian being overlooked for Middlesbrough's victory at Chesterfield.[LNB] Liverpool remain interested in Jones and Strachan opted to hand 19-year-old Jason Steele his debut and put Danny Coyne on the bench instead.[LNB] That left Jones, who travelled with the squad, rested and forced to watch the match from the stands, just days after he was not at the Riverside Stadium for Middlesbrough's opening day defeat to Ipswich Town.[LNB] Nothing has changed with Brad. Everyone is still here,[LNB] said Strachan. It's been a good night for goalkeepers. I have no idea whether he will be here.[LNB] I could have played Danny Coyne as well and I left him on the bench. I wanted to play Jason Steele. You only find out about someone by playing them, that's what I played him and not Brad.[LNB] Steele's debut at the age of 19 has filled his manager with plenty confidence, making a number of saves to keep Chesterfield at bay and Middlesbrough in front in the Carling Cup tie.[LNB] If that's anything to go by then he has a future. He is a good kid. He is good to deal with, said Strachan.[LNB] You have to find out about players. You need to know not only if they are a good keeper but if they have mental strength as well. He did very well.[LNB] Steele was not the only player to have caught the manager's eye at the b2net Stadium last night, with Josh Walker, who thought he would be leaving this summer, and Luke Williams impressing the most.[LNB] Young Josh Walker started very well and we asked him to be brave an he did that, said Strachan.[LNB] It was good to get a win.[LNB] We had 13 players missing but I liked what I saw. We did have a problem for 15 minutes when they spotted a weakness and that was good thinking by them.[LNB] But there was plenty of good things out there. David Wheater had another good game, Luke Williams was busy again and I thought Leroy had one of his best games for the club.[LNB] Middlesbrough insist that they have not reached agreement with Mido and Ajax over the striker's departure, despite the Egyptian's claims that he has officially[LNB] signed a permanent deal in Amsterdam.[LNB]
