Impression in top flight
is respected throughout the club. No doubt he would have loved to move directly into coaching when ending his playing career at the Riverside, though no offers came along from Karanka.
Woodgate has since been scouting for Liverpool. Even so, the call from Agnew to take up a senior post at the Boro must have been like manna from heaven.
There is very little Woody failed to achieve as a player. He has a top background in the game which will earn him the backing of the players.
Woodgate is Stewart Downing’s brother in law, but there will be no nepotism at the Boro. Downing will regain his regular place in the side on merit.
Jenkins has been a slow burner, working his way up diligently from running the club’s junior sides to making his first team breakthrough.
All the way along the line he won the respect of the players and fully deserves this opportunity at top level.
However the task remains a difficult one for all the new men. They have to pick up the cudgels from the start, learn quickly and hit the ground running.
Survival is a big, big ask. If this newlook quartet can pull it off, then the future for everybody concerned will be completely different. been treated for a foot injury and George Friend for a calf problem, but fortunately both have returned to light training.
Both of these players are highly influential on the pitch and will be welcomed back with open arms.
Chambers’ injury in particular has proved a major setback to the team.
No doubt Agnew would like to sign the England international on a permanent basis at the end of the season, when his loan spell ends, though Chambers must initially return to parent club Arsenal.
In any case there may be bigger fish in the water. Arsenal’s North London rivals Spurs are said to be very keen on pushing through the summer signing of Chambers.
The 22-year-old was sent to the Boro by Arsene Wenger to gain valuable pitch time. He got plenty of that in the first half of the season.
Unfortunately Chambers has been injured on and off since January and Boro have been stretched at the back.
So Ayala’s return to the squad is a breath of fresh air for Agnew. The Spaniard could yet be handed the chance to make up for all the playing opportunities he has missed. Middlesbrough’s Daniel Ayala narrowly misses making contact with a free-kick against Everton