Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate insists he has confidence in striker Afonso Alves.
The 28-year-old has been linked with a summer move to Benfica but Southgate side-stepped the chance to comment directly on that matter today by focusing firmly on the club's current plight.
Southgate said: "I think in terms of the number of goals he has been able to score, he'll be disappointed that he hasn't got as many as he might have done, because we have had some good chances.
"But I still believe he can score goals between now and the end of the season.
"As far as we are concerned we have got a squad of players that have got to keep us in this division. Everyone has got a key part to play in that.
"There is nothing to be said for any player with regard to the summer, until the summer.
"There'll always be speculation on all players - but it is just speculation.
"It is easy to highlight one or two players but you win and lose as a team. We have conceded too many goals and haven't scored enough."