AFTER seeing Ben Gibson flourish in Middlesbrough’s first team this season, Tony Mowbray could offer an opportunity to Christian Burgess when his loan spell at Hartlepool United comes to an end.

Burgess has been in fine form since signing for Pools on loan until December, and Mowbray travelled to Bramall Lane to see Pools’ 1-0 win over Sheffield United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night.

The former Arsenal academy player signed for Boro as a student a year ago before signing a professional deal in the summer, and has impressed for Colin Cooper’s side in League Two, making 13 appearances and scoring one goal in all competitions.

Mowbray has been searching for defensive cover with Jonathan Woodgate’s calf injury ruling him out of the last three matches, prompting the Boro manager to throw Gibson into the first team.

In Seb Hines, Rhys Williams, Gibson and Woodgate, Mowbray has four centre-halves and would ideally like to add to that, with a deal understood to be for Daniel Ayala falling through a fortnight ago, and although Pools are keen to keep Burgess at Victoria Park until the end of the season, Boro could choose to bring the 21-year-old into the picture at the Riverside Stadium once his initial loan expires.

Meanwhile, Albert Adomah is hoping to be involved in the World Cup in Brazil next summer after breaking into the Ghana squad last year.

The Boro winger, who signed from Bristol City over the summer, has gone from Barnet to Boro in four years and is well-set to be involved in the Black Stars’ squad should they qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row.

"Around the time of the last World Cup I was just about to sign for Bristol City and in the summer I was playing park football and 5-a-side Power league football as well," Adomah said.

"So hopefully I can go from park football in 2010 to World Cup in 2014. That would be a unbelievable."

Ghana face a play-off against Egypt on October 15 and 19, and Adomah is delighted to be part of the squad.

"The spirit is always the same, we're all like brothers, no one is higher than anyone else. Even though some players play at a higher level we're all equal when we're at the camp," said Adomah.

"No-one treats anyone else like they're small or big, everyone's equal which is really good.

"I've only played 12 games for Ghana and now I feel like I'm part of the national team, which is great.

"The team bus is always full of joy. On the way to games and even before and after training sessions, we're all singing and dancing.

"It's completely different to England where people are on their phones texting or wearing headphones.

"When I first got a call-up I was a bit shy so I was just clapping my hands to the music but I speak the main language so I can sing along and I don't feel left out.

"And obviously when we score goals we celebrate with a dance which is great, it really gets the supporters going."