Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan has defended dumping David Wheater as captain.

The Sun says Strachan insists stripping Wheater of the Middlesbrough captaincy was for his own good.

Birmingham and Aston Villa are keeping tabs on the £8million-rated defender.

But Strachan, who has given the armband to Gary O'Neil, said: "David is a young player of 22 who needs to concentrate on developing his football.