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Boro boss is keen to keep Johnson’s ‘special talent’
GARETH SOUTHGATE wants to
keep Adam Johnson at Middlesbrough,
labelling the young England
prospect a very special talent'
worth holding on to.
Everton and Tottenham are
long-term admirers of the tricky
left-winger and Johnson is
known to have become frustrated
with his lack of opportunities.
But Southgate feels the 20-
year-old should remain patient,
predicting next season will be a
big year for the Easington-born
winger if he stays at the Riverside
Stadium.
Stewart Downing has been an
ever-present in the Premier
League this season, leaving his
younger understudy stuck on the
bench.
But with the future of Gary
O'Neil up in the air, Johnson
could be given an opportunity
next season, on the right wing
rather than his preferred left.
"Adam is a fantastic talent and
I do not want to see him leave,"
said Southgate. "Maybe I may
have to find him a new position.
I'll have to look at that. I know he
can play on the right.
"If we alter how we play in the
middle of the park that might
help Adam and Stewart play together
in the same team.
"I am not afraid to let people go
on the basis that they might
come back to haunt you.
"It might mean certain players
have left here, had to go to get
first team football, which they
would not have achieved here.
But Adam could be very, very
special and I would not want to
see him play for another club."
Since making his debut in the
UEFA Cup defeat to Sporting Lisbon
three years ago, Johnson has
made 14 Premier League starts.
He has been used as a substitute
on a further 30 occasions,
but Southgate has struggled to
accommodate him and Downing.
A similar situation has presented
itself with Lee Cattermole,
with the midfielder's situation
alerting Wigan.
"The hardest thing for some of
our younger players is that they
have got in the team too young
in terms of having had more Premier
League exposure than really
they are ready for," said Southgate.
"Adam is a classic example of
that. He got in the first team at
17 or 18 and I do not think he was
ready to go in there. It means that
three years down the line he is
only 20.
"He has been around the first
team for three years and he does
not feel he is progressing, but he
has had more involvement in the
first team than most playuers of
his age. Lee Cattermole is the
same."
It has emerged that another
player under consideration to fill
the void vacated by Fabio
Rochemback is Sheffield United's
promising Irishman Stephen
Quinn.
Quinn, 22, scored two goals in
his last three appearances for the
Blades in the Championship and
his emergence has been noted in
the Premier League.
9:14am Tuesday 20th May 2008
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