Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate believes the club's decision not to sell any players this month has led to stability at the club. Southgate has told all the members of his squad they are required to fight to keep the club in the Premier League, and he claims "there is a better feeling around the place because of it".

The Boro boss said: "From the people running the club to the management and the coaches, we are all positive in believing that we should not sell our best players.

"We are not a club to make quick decisions. It would be easy to allow players to leave, but not as easy to use the money wisely at this time of year.

"The players have been informed of our position, and the response has been excellent."

He continued: "I believe that things will be a lot easier because people understand why we are doing what we have done.

"We know now what has been going on over the last six weeks and maybe it has proved unsettling in certain ways. It doesn't suddenly start when the transfer window opens.

"Now everyone is aware of what our chairman, Steve Gibson, has said and I think it will help to give us a better feeling going into matches.

"Yes, we could have taken the money but I honestly don't believe that we would have been able to replace outgoing players with anyone as good.

"It's difficult to attract players here. It could have placed us in a very awkward situation.

"What we have done is to let everybody know that we make the decisions and, once we have made them, that's how it is.

"I think we have done everything in the right manner and I think the reaction has been very good.

"Now we can concentrate on what is more important and that is working to our utmost every week in the Premier League."