WHAT HAS HE GOT?

When Middlesbrough were relegated most scouts would have expected them to sacrifice their strong left-sided centre back. After all, he had striven manfully with eye-catching defensive strength in their backsto-the-wall struggle to stay up. Now in the Championship, Gibson has lost none of his qualities as a captain and leader. As a local boy and nephew of the chairman, maybe it’s an attachment to the club that has stopped him from wanting away but watching him recently I was impressed. Strong in the air, he is equally adept at reading the game and covering his colleagues or being the one to attack the ball with a strong clearance. I like the way he always tries to play constructively from the back. Calm and mature, he is a steady influence. Boro’s defensive record is good and as a centre back, Gibson knows not to get pulled towards the touchline — his job is to defend the 18-yard box. In the hurly-burly of the Championship, when facing dangerous free-kicks and corners, Gibson competes well and clears strongly, always trying to head high and wide.