HAROLD HUNGRY TO LEARN FROM WOODY
NEW Middlesbrough loan signing Harold Moukoudi is looking forward to playing under boss Jonathan Woodgate.
The defender joined the Championship club on deadline day from French Ligue 1 side St Etienne, for whom he had made 15 appearances this term.
The 22-year-old, who revealed Boro beat off competition from a host of other clubs to sign him, said: “I want to learn with my other defenders and with the coach. He played in the same position as me and I think he will be good for my progression.
“I am physical, but I try to play with my feet, so I am not just a physical guy.
“My qualities are defensive, tackling, but I can score too.”
Meanwhile, Djed Spence signed a new twoand-a-half-year contract.
The 19-year-old fullback has been rewarded for an impressive start to his Boro career, having made his Championship debut in December.
Woodgate said: “We’re delighted to get Djed tied down for a longer period. He has done exceptionally well since he came into the team. He earned the right and he knows he has to keep working hard.
“We speak a lot and he knows the standards he has set, the standards we expect, and that he has to keep listening, keep working, and keep improving.”
Woodgate was also happy to tie up 21-year-old midfielder Ben Liddle to a new two-and-a-half-year deal.
Liddle has since joined Scunthorpe on a loan deal until the end of the season. Woodgate added: “It’s great to get another of our young players signed up for the future.
“After coming back for pre-season, Ben knew he had a lot of work to do, and he’s really knuckled down and done very well.
“The loan move will give him the opportunity to continue his development by playing regular, competitive football, and he will come back here next summer benefiting from the experience.”