Boro's centre-back crisis showing signs of easing
Australia midfielder Riley McGree is also back in training as he recovers from an injury that has kept him out since 11 January, an absence of 12 games.Boro sit eighth as the Championship resumes after the international break, three points outside the play-off spots.
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Russell Martin told 'different' Joe Rothwell will seal Rangers reunion as ex Celtic boss gives honest transfer take
Tony Mowbray has offered the inside track on the incoming Ibrox recruit Tony Mowbray believed he was getting a kid with Premier League potential when he lured Joe Rothwell to Blackburn. But the former Celtic gaffer reckons Rangers are now closing in on a midfielder who's ready-made for Russell Martin's new style at Ibrox. The 30-year-old is set to become Martin's third new addition of the summer after agreeing terms with Gers. Mowbray was the man who signed Rothwell for Rovers in 2018 after spotting the burgeoning talent that would one day lead the daring dribbler to England's top flight. After four years at Ewood Park, Mowbray's prophecy was fulfilled as Rothwell joined Bournemouth in the top division. And now his old manager is predicting big things again as Rothwell signs up to Martin's Rangers revolution. The ex-Manchester United trainee has worked with the new Ibrox gaffer before, helping Martin's Southampton team to play-off promotion joy in 2024 during a six-month loan from the Cherries. But it was another impressive stint with Championship winners Leeds last year which has convinced Mowbray that the youngster he signed in 2018 has blossomed into the all-rounder Martin can build a team around. He told Record Sport: 'The Joe I saw playing for Leeds last season was different to the Joe I had when he was a younger player. 'He's always been a good ball traveller. His ability to move at speed with the ball at his feet was why I signed him from Oxford. 'He's amazing with the ball at feet. He'll get you up the pitch very fast. That's why I always felt he was destined for the Premier League. 'But playing for Leeds last year against my West Brom team, Daniel Farke asked him to play in a slightly different way. He became more of a passer, a No6, a sitter who controlled the game. 'But he can do both jobs. He's still amazing at covering ground fast. But then he can also pick passes through the lines. 'So I think he's developed into a slightly different player, one with more strings to his bow. 'Rangers are getting a really talented boy, a lad who will get people off their seats. 'He's got all the tools in the box and whatever the coach wants him to do - whether it's dribbling or controlling games with his passing - he'll do it. 'What I do know of the manager at Glasgow Rangers is that he's going to want the ball and he's going to want to pass it. 'He knows Joe's quality obviously having had him at Southampton - and he'll know he's getting a footballer who can control the game with the ball. 'Joe's so calm. If people rush him, try to pressure him, he'll just step past them and when he's off and running, you aren't catching him. 'He'll soon find out just how much time and space he gets in Old Firm games, mind you! 'But I think Russell is trying to put the right type of players in the team to play the way he wants to. It's a very possession orientated game and Joe suits that perfectly.' No-one needs to tell Mowbray about the pressure that comes with life in the Old Firm fishbowl. As a player, he signed for Celtic at a time when the Parkhead club were trapped in the shadows of Walter Smith's nine-in-a-row superstars. And his 10-month run as Hoops boss endured more frustration as his Celts again failed to keep pace during Smith's second incarnation as Ibrox gaffer. Nowadays, the balance of power has shifted towards the east end of the city and Mowbray admits Rothwell will have to do better than he did if he's to savour his time at Ibrox. 'I'm sure Joe will enjoy Glasgow,' he said. 'But you can only enjoy it if you're winning. 'Obviously, Rangers have a lot to do to turn things around in Glasgow and up there, if you're not winning, you're coming second, which is as good as last. 'It's very difficult for anybody to say how to deal with the Glaswegian environment. 'I made a decision as a 28-year-old to play for Celtic. I thought I was mature having had some great years down south and yet I found myself going into something I wasn't ready for really. 'Joe will have to find out for himself how he's going to cope living every day in that city. 'If Celtic are still winning everything it's going to be difficult. But as a lad I really like Joe. He's a good human being. 'I hope it goes well for him - well maybe on a personal note I hope it doesn't go that well! But I do think it's going to be interesting this year.' Mowbray will certainly be keeping a close eye on how Martin fares in Scotland having come up against his Swansea and Southampton teams in the Championship. The 61-year-old's brother Darren worked closely with the former Scotland defender while in charge of recruitment at St Mary's. 'I know he's exceptionally driven in what he wants to do,' added Mowbray. 'He has his own vision of how he wants to play and I think it will challenge Celtic. 'But Russell has to have the quality of the players and the braveness of footballers to make it work. 'The Premier League has been difficult for a lot of coaches going up there for the first time. He found that difficult last year. But his team that won promotion was undoubtedly one of the best in the Championship. 'Russell did an amazing job with Southampton. His team was amazingly good with the ball. 'Once the players understood how he wanted to play, they were pretty formidable. 'It did take a bit of time for them to get to what he wanted, though. My old Sunderland side beat them quite heavily early on. 'But as the season unfolded, they got stronger. When they got to the Premier League, everybody told him he had to be more flexible. 'But he's his own man and his side played amazingly good football. When it worked you'd think, 'Wow'. That's why the supporters should be excited, because it won't be total Celtic domination. 'But football is about results. You have to win and Russell has to turn that amazing brand of football into winning football. If he can then they'll all be happy. Celtic will have a genuine challenge on their hands.'
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Goalkeeper Danny Ward looking forward to Wrexham challenge
The goalkeeper, 32, has re-joined his home-town club on a contract until the end of the 2026-27 season after leaving Leicester City who will come up against the Reds in the Championship next term following the Foxes relegation from the Premier League. A product of the academy at The Racecourse, Welsh international Ward made the switch to Liverpool in January 2012 for a fee of around £100,000 having made one competitive appearance for Wrexham when he started the 2-1 Welsh Cup third round defeat at home to Airbus on December 3 2011. The side was made up of youngsters because it was the same day Andy Morrell's senior side caused a huge FA Cup second round shock by winning 1-0 against Brentford at Griffin Park. Ward, who had successful loan spells with Aberdeen and Huddersfield Town while at Liverpool before signing for Leicester City for around £12.5 million in July 2018, does not count his run-out against Airbus as a first-team outing and can't wait to finally play a game for Wrexham. "I still don't class Airbus as a first-team game," said the stopper. "I know it was at The Racecourse but there wasn't many fans there, everyone was down at Griffin Park watching Jamie Tolley whack one in! "One sort of gripe I had when I left for Liverpool was that I always wanted to play a first-team game for Wrexham. "Even though it was a great opportunity with Liverpool and a brilliant new chapter, it was something that stuck with me and something I always wanted to accomplish. "To have that chance now coming back is a special feeling." Ward was released by Leicester, where he made 29 league appearances in seven seasons, at the end of the 2024-25 campaign and he jumped at the chance to move back to the club where he began his career. "Exciting times," said Ward. "It was slightly strange driving in to the ground (to sign) but an amazing feeling. "I have had a busy summer. I went away and got married, I have had the international break and while I was away, I learned of the interest from Wrexham. "As soon as I heard it, it was something I wanted to happen - 100 per cent. MORE WREXHAM AFC NEWS "Everyone knows my feelings for the club and my history with it so I wanted to get it done. "The club means a lot to me. Even before I signed as an academy player and my time at Colliers Park, I used to get on the train from Hawarden to come and watch games just after we'd been relegated from the league. "And then to be part of the club and come through the system, and have an insight into what it takes to be a professional, the grounding it gave me at an early age making my way in the game was unbelievable. "It is something that set me on my way and I will forever be grateful for that, and hopefully now I can repay that a little bit."
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
What now for Wrexham after bringing in another goalkeeper?
There be other positions that Parkinson needs more bodies in his quest to make the Reds "competitive" in the Championship next season but Danny Ward is an excellent addition who has played at the highest level. However, what is the situation now in the goalkeeping department at The Racecourse? Although veteran stopper Mark Howard was released at the end of last season along with Brad Foster and Liam Hall, who both needed to go elsewhere to get game-time, Parkinson is not short of options between the posts. Arthur Okonkwo has been first choice stopper over the last two seasons and with 35 league clean sheets in the last two promotions, it is hard to see how he won't get the nod when Wrexham kick-off the new campaign away to Southampton on August 9. Wales international Ward might not have played as many matches as he would have liked for Leicester but he is eager to get out on the pitch and show what he can do for his hometown club. Parkinson also has Callum Burton who impressed when he came into the side for the injured Okonkwo last season. A torn thigh injury was cruel on Burton in just his fourth league outing but he will be eager to pick up where he left off. But will he get the chance? Clubs in the Championship are limited to a 25-man squad and that includes goalkeepers or players who were aged 21 or over at the start of the calendar year. If Parkinson plans on naming three keepers in his list then Okonkwo, Ward and Burton would all get the nod, but there's also Luke McNicholas waiting in the wings. The 25-year-old has showed up well when he's played EFL Trophy games and he also caught the eye on loan at Rochdale last term before sustaining an injury. It's possible another loan move is on the horizon for McNicholas in a bid to gain more experience. There will be more new signings as he get closer to that first fixture against the Saints at The St Marys Stadium but surely Parkinson's work is done in the goalkeeper area. He has quality in abundance and no shortage of competition so it will be interesting to see how things develop going forward.
