UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE

Saville insists he can live up to big money Boro move

MIDDLESBROUGH new boy George Saville believes he’s equipped to carry the mega bucks mantle as one of Northern Ireland’s most expensive players.

The Surrey-born midfielder recently joined Championship club from Millwall - initially on loan but permanent from January - for a reported eventual fee of £8m.

That equals the £8m West Brom paid for Jonny Evans from Manchester United in 2015 and exceeds the £5.75m Celtic gave Leicester City for Neil Lennon in 2000.

It’s also approximately double what Rangers paid for Northern Ireland skipper Steven Davis and key striker Kyle Lafferty 10 years ago.

But while Saville suddenly has an eye watering price on his head, the 25-year-old, who sealed his move on Deadline Day, declared it “just a figure.” “In this day and age football is growing and transfers are becoming more expensive,” he said. “For me it is just a figure.

“It is just a positive move and an opportunity for me to go and progress my career.”

With Boro riding high in the Championship - they lie level on points with leaders Leeds United at the summit - Saville views it as the next logical step.

His ultimate aim? To help the North Yorkshire club, managed by Tony Pulis, gain promotion and play in the top flight of English football.

“That’s one of the factors why I joined Middlesbrough,” he said. “They are a massive club with huge ambition and one of the favourites to go up this season.

“The ideal goal is to play at the highest level which is the Premier League and with Middlesbrough I feel I can achieve that.

“Millwall was fantastic for me and gave me the stepping stone to get to the next level. For me Middlesbrough are a

Premier League club so I didn’t need that much convincing of the move.

“It is the right move for me at this time and I feel under a manager like

Tony Pulis I can thrive and get myself and the club into the Premier

League.”

Saville, right, a graduate of the Chelsea

Academy, accepts there’ll be a brighter spotlight on him after his big money move.

He’ll be expected to deliver as Middlesbrough, who also boast Saville’s international team-mate Paddy Mcnair in their ranks, chase a golden ticket to the Premier League.

“There will be a different pressure on me, but it’s one I’m ready for,” he said. “When I started with Northern Ireland, there was a pressure on me to perform on the international stage and I felt I have handled that well so far.

“When you have a new challenge, you have to take it with both hands.”

Saville, who qualifies for Northern Ireland through his Enniskillen born grandmother, believes his exposure to international football has provided an invaluable platform for his club career.

George Saville expects to be targetted after his big money move LINFIELD boss David Healy is eager his players play with a “sharper edge” as they bid to get back to winning ways in the league at Warrenpoint Town.The Blues started the season with three wins - including away victories over Glenavon and Crusaders - but have shipped points in their last two outings.A 1-1 draw with 10-men at Cliftonville goes down as a positive result in the circumstances, but last week’s scoreless draw with Ards left an air of frustration over Windsor.Ahead of tonight’s trip to Milltown, Healy (above) said: “We were in control of the Ards game and couldn’t find the breakthrough, but we move on.“We’re still unbeaten and it’s a big game for us at Warrenpoint, but we know we’ll have to play with a sharper edge and be more clinical when the chances come.”While Linfield know a point will take them top of the table above Glenavon who don’t play this week, Warrenpoint are seeking their first points of the campaign.Last week’s thumping 6-1 defeat to Ballymena United means Stephen Mcdonnell’s men have conceded a whopping 17 goals in their five league games.“They were well beaten last week, so there’ll be a rebound effect from that,” said Healy. “They’ll certainly be looking to get a reaction against us.“It’ll be another tough test and we know we’ll need to be at our best and play to our maximum to get the result we want.”Elsewhere, Glentoran know a win over Newry City would propel them into the top three.Cliftonville, without a win in their last four league games, host Institute who lie three points above them in the table. Both games kick-off at 7.45pm as well.