Middlesbrough skipper David Wheater has jumped to the defence of manager Gareth Southgate as they struggle to handle the Championship.

Wheater said: "We are all very young. You look at the programme before the game and the first team looks like an Academy photo. I'm the old man of the team and I'm 22.

"The lads who have come in have done very well as a team, but it does take its toll. It is harder physically than the Premier League. You get tough, big strikers, whereas in the Premier League it is all down to quick bursts of pace.

"Strikers in the Championship have to earn their money and work for a living and that is something we are going to have to get used to very quickly if we are going to achieve our dream and go up this season.

"I've played in all the divisions in the lower leagues and it is tough. Players work for their living and that means every single challenge, every ball, you have to win.

"Three games a week is tough as well but the gaffer and the players are all 100 per cent convinced we can do it this season."