Southgate Pondering Over Wheater

Southgate Pondering Over Wheater

Boro boss Gareth Southgate is puzzled over David Wheaters call up to the full England squad after playing 90 minutes for the Under 21's.

Southgate said, "I have to be very careful about my reaction. I don't want to detract from what was a marvellous England performance.

"I am absolutely delighted for David on a personal basis because I know how much it means to a young player to be called into the full squad.

"But as manager of Middlesbrough, I am in a situation where I am trying to prepare for a Premier League game.

"So I am not too impressed when one of my players is asked to take a flight to Belarus to watch the senior squad play, immediately after taking part in an U21 match."

"It's great for David, but it's an example of circumstances where we as a club have to defend ourselves.

"As Middlesbrough manager I feel that we have to fight our own corner.

"We are playing Chelsea at 12.45pm on Saturday and it's important to galvanise everything we can because we are playing one of the big boys.

"It's difficult to reason how if you have been playing in two games for the U21s and you have done your job, you can then be asked to watch the first team.

You are either in one squad or you are in the other, for me.

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