Window relief for Southgate

05 February 2009 18:56
Gareth Southgate admits he was pleased to come through the transfer window with his important players still at Middlesbrough.[LNB] There was little transfer activity at the Riverside during January as Marlon King arrived at the club, while Mido headed out to Wigan Athletic.[LNB]Boro turned down bids from Tottenham for Stewart Downing and Portsmouth for Gary O'Neil, with both players reportedly unsettled on Teesside.[LNB]However, Boro resisted all approaches for the players and Southgate was relieved to keep the core of his squad intact ahead of the battle for Premier League survival.[LNB]Healthy"We are pleased to have kept our important players - we felt that was an important part of January for us - and pleased to get on with getting back on the training ground and not be distracted by things which have, in my view, derailed us a bit over the last few weeks," said Southgate.[LNB]"It's good to know the group of players we have got and it is good for the group of players to know they are all here until the middle of May, June at the very least.[LNB]"Nobody is coming in to threaten their places, nobody is going to weaken us as a squad, and it's healthy for everybody to know exactly what we are working with."[LNB]Boro's stance over both Downing and O'Neil was unwavering, but Southgate acknowledges they will only know if they were right to maintain their stubborn resistance once the final ball is kicked.[LNB]Heads turnedHe said: "We took that stance we did on a couple of issues and we felt as a club that was the right thing to do.[LNB]"But we will only know if that was the right thing to do come the end of the season.[LNB]"The most important thing for us as a team now is getting our best players fit and available and on the field, and getting those players playing to their best.[LNB]"If we do that, then we will still be in this division next season.[LNB]"We have had one or two who have had their heads turned by other clubs making approaches for them - those issues are gone now."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports