Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has praised the contribution of Matthew Bates in the middle of midfield.

The 22-year-old has adapted to his new role in midfield like a duck to water, and was another prominent member of the side at Everton last weekend.

Southgate said: "I thought that Bates was excellent again for us in the Cup.

"He has good engines and reacts quickly to things that are going on around him.

"He also likes to push forward and he got in some important crosses."