Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng says Gareth Southgate could be a future England manager.

He told the Evening Gazette: "I think it's only good for Gareth the progress that he's making because, I don't know how long it would take, but after Capello's reign I think it would be better to go back to a British manager.

"They will be looking for someone with a very good pedigree and Gareth is included in that.

"This period will do him good in terms of the learning process. I think being here would make him a very strong candidate; very, very strong, because it's not easy being a manager at Middlesbrough I can tell you. People think that maybe because we are a smaller club in a huge environment people think that maybe it's easier.

"Gareth has a lot of pressure every weekend and every day because the club needs to progress. If you have a good result, it only lasts two or three days then you are looking at the next game."