Middlesbrough boss Southgate pleased with Emnes progress

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is delighted with progress this season of Dutch youngster Marvin Emnes.

Southgate told the Evening Gazette: “I know that a lot of fans are wondering why he hasn’t had more chances. If results had been better then he certainly would have played more football, but on too many occasions we felt that we needed extra experience in the side.

“In fact this season has not gone much differently for Marvin than how we expected. On the other hand I know that people will look at last summer and say that we signed only three players and Marvin was one of them and he hasn’t been playing.

“We did intend to sign more than just three, but things didn’t work out that way. If we had signed nine or 10, and Marvin was one of them, then people would have been happy to regard him - as we did - as a development signing.

“So, while I can understand the way in which people see the situation, we still believe that we have brought him through the right way. There’s no doubt he has made massive strides this season.

“I’m confident that he will play a lot more football next season. He has an exciting future here.”