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Boateng Assured Over Future
By Betting Zone
October 3 2007
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has assured his captain George Boateng he remains a key part of his plans. The 32-year-old Dutchman found himself named only among the substitutes for the 2-2 home draw with north-east rivals Sunderland on September 22, as Southgate opted for £5million signing Gary O'Neil in midfield.
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Boateng was introduced within 27 minutes after Julio Arca was stretchered off with medial ligament damage which is expected to sideline him for at least two months, and started the subsequent games at Tottenham in the Carling Cup and Everton in the Barclays Premier League.

Southgate's former team-mate has in recent times seen his favoured central role filled by Arca and Brazilian Fabio Rochemback, with the Aston Villa old boy playing out wide in what had been a problem position before O'Neil's arrival on Teesside.

However, the manager insists Boateng remains a vital figure in his vision for the club.

He said: "George is very important to me. The qualities he has are different to the qualities other players have.

"But it does not mean he is any less important to the side or to the club.

"Because we have not had a squad that has been strong enough here in the past to rest players for certain games or to change the style for certain games, there have been lots of players who have been automatic choices.

"But over the course of the season, I found out last year that you have to keep players fresher, and when they are fresh, they should go back into the side and have a bigger impact on the team.

"It's also important we have the right balance. You need both sides of the game and the job that the likes of George Boateng and Lee Cattermole do is equally important for the team.

"You have players with different attributes and the team depends on all of those attributes coming together."

Boateng might have underlined his importance to his side had he converted an early opportunity in Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

Southgate, having lost last season's first-choice strikeforce of Mark Viduka and Ayegbeni Yakubu and the 35 goals they supplied, has challenged his midfielders to help make up the deficit.

With strikers Mido, Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli all injured and Dong-Gook Lee struggling to make an impact, goals from midfield will be vital if Boro are to drag themselves up the table in the weeks ahead.

Boateng and O'Neil both got themselves into good positions to score at the weekend, while Arca, Rochemback, Stewart Downing and Cattermole have already contributed this season.

While the industry and commitment of the likes of Boateng and Cattermole have proved invaluable to Boro in recent seasons, it is the artistry of Arca and Rochemback which has lit up the Riverside Stadium.

Arca's loss is a huge blow after his successful transformation from left-back to playmaker, although Southgate is philosophical about his absence.

He said: "He has been fantastic for us since he arrived and in the middle of the park he has been a big influence for us.

"But it gives opportunities to other people. We have brought players in in the midfield area and it is one where there is competition for places."

Meanwhile, Southgate is hoping for better news of his walking wounded ahead of Sunday's difficult trip to in-form Manchester City.

Mido continues to struggle with a hamstring problem, while Tuncay's shin injury remains a cause for concern and both are doubts.

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By Bettingzone.co.uk
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Boateng Assured Over Future
Posted by: ComeOnBoro (IP Logged)
Date: 03/10/2007 12:46

Boateng Assured Over Future

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