Keeper deals next on Southgate's list

Boro boss Gareth Southgate will turn his attention to new contracts for keepers Ross Turnbull and Brad Jones within a few weeks.

Both keepers are out of contract at the end of the current campaign but look as though they will be rewarded with new deals soon after impressing this season.

Southgate challenged the pair to prove they were worth new deals at the start of the season when he said they could fight it out for the number one spot at the club and both appear to have done enough for the boss.

Southgate told the Gazette: "I am comfortable with the situation at the moment but it's something I'll be looking at over the next few weeks.

"We are giving both keepers an opportunity here, but they have to earn a new contract. Ross is still relatively young in goalkeeper terms but he has told me that he wants to stay here in the long term.

"Ross and Brad are getting a chance here and I'll be sitting down and looking at their contract situations shortly."