‘Every player has got to take a step forward’
THERE HAS TO BE COMPETITION FOR EVERY POSITION, INSISTS WILDER
AS Middlesbrough continue working to add to their squad this summer, manager Chris Wilder has told his current players this is their chance to step forward ahead of the new season.
The Boro boss is looking to create competition for places throughout his squad this summer and wants his players to stake their claim in the summer friendlies.
His players, propped up by five players from the under-23 squad, completed 45 minutes each last weekend as they ran out 5-0 winners at Bishop Auckland in the pre-season opener.
They now step up their competition as they travel to National League outfit York City this evening.
While work continues behind the scenes to add to that squad, there are not expected to be any new faces in the team which plays the Minstermen with Liam Roberts, Ryan Giles and Darragh Lenihan the three recruits so far, while Tommy Smith is continuing his trial after he impressed at Heritage Park last weekend.
Wilder said: “Every player has to take a step forward.
“We’re looking for every player to improve, whether that’s Josh Coburn], Isaiah Jones, Jonny Howson or whoever.
“Everybody has a point to prove and there is going to be fierce competition for places.
“There are boxes which we need to tick to be successful next season and one is that we need fierce competition in all positions.
“We won’t have a successful season if we only have 13 or 14 players. We have to have competition for everybody to keep them on their toes and raise standards.
“For loss of form, injury or suspension, we have to have a goodquality squad and depth to that, 23-24 players. That will bring out the best in everybody.”
He added: “We had young players involved at Bishop Auckland.
“Young Cal Kavanagh played second half and young Sonny Finch first, which was good.
“Bryant Bilongo played and Hayden Hackney and Joe Gibson and it will be great for those young players to be in that environment as well.
“Good for them to be in a changing room with the likes of Dael Fry, Darragh Lenihan, Jonny Howson and Matt Crooks.”
The majority of Boro’s players have been back at Rockliffe for a fortnight now and the Boro boss is happy with the progress being made as they work towards the first game of the season against West Bromwich Albion, which is now just over three weeks away.
After this evening’s clash with York City, those preparations will really step up as Wilder takes the Boro squad to Portugal for a week-long, warm-weather training camp.
The culmination of that will be a friendly with Portuguese top-tier side Braga in Lagos next Friday.
Wilder said: “We go away to Portugal next week but that won’t be about relaxing, that will be a working trip as the players will realise when they get out there.
“Players who have worked for me before will attest to the fact that it’s not a week away lying on the sunbeds.
“It’s about graft but it’s also good to get everyone together and get away, that’s really important as we head into a tough season.
“I’m delighted with where we are. I know all managers will say tha, but I genuinely am.
“I am delighted because of the players we’ve brought in, because of the additions we potentially can make which are exciting and because the players who are here are in a good place too.”
The work taking place at Rockliffe has been mixed this summer between hard fitness work and tactical ball work, while there was even time last week for a spot of cricket as a staff team took on the players.
The staff were victorious in the game, Wilder joking: “It was the highlight of the week as far as I was concerned.
“The old guys found a way to win even though it was controversial at times.
“The old guys got the win and I don’t think a few of the boys were very happy with that.
“A few of them stormed off but listen, we found a way to win and that’s maybe a good marker for us all this season in a very competitive league.
“All joking aside, it’s been a good fortnight.”
We have to have
competition for everybody to keep them on their toes and rais standards.
Chris Wilder