Riggott expects big Riverside changes (From The Northern Echo)

Riggott expects big Riverside changes

10:38am Wednesday 30th December 2009

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HAVING made his long-awaited comeback, Chris Riggott wants to prove his worth to Gordon Strachan by showing he has the character to help turn Middlesbrough back into Championship promotion contenders.

Riggott’s return to fitness after playing his first full 90 minutes since last January has arrived at just the right time, with Strachan intent on making a number of adjustments to his squad next month.

At least three of Celtic’s Gary Caldwell, Barry Robson, Mark Wilson and Scott Mc- Donald are likely to move to Teesside, with other players also targeted, and Riggott fully expects his manager to ring the changes when the transfer window opens.

Strachan will try to offload a number of players to strengthen his budget to bring in those he feels possess the right mentality that will rub off on the largely youthful squad he inherited in October.

And Riggott, one of the elder statesmen of the playing staff at 29, can understand why the unpredictable former Celtic boss wants to add steel to a team regularly outfought at Championship level this season.

“Over the last few years there have been a few sales but there has been a steady group of players who have formed the core so there has been continuity,” said Riggott.

“But a new manager has every right to come in and bring in his own men in. He will know who he wants and he will be trying, I’m sure.

“From a personal point of view it’s difficult to say just how much change is needed here. I think we are missing a bit of backbone, a bit of experience, that’s fair comment.

“When the chips are down, like when we conceded at Barnsley, we could do with looking round and seeing a few experienced players around us. That’s what we are missing.”

After helping Boro to earn a one-goal advantage at Barnsley on Monday, Riggott was then stunned by the way they fell to pieces when the resurgent Tykes fought their way back after the restart.

Once Steve Foster put Barnsley level, Boro always looked like losing and Hugo Colace nodded in the winner.

Strachan did not take long to pass on his thoughts in the Middlesbrough dressing room and there is an acceptance that things will change at the Riverside next month.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the manager brings a few players in,” said Riggott. “It’s to be expected and I’m sure he has a few in his mind who he would like.

“I’m not sure who because January is notoriously a tricky time to get players to sign. Whether he gets two, three or four in we will have to wait and see but I’m sure he will be trying.”

The need for additions has become more pressing now that Sean St Ledger, Marcus Bent and Dave Kitson have all returned to their parent clubs following unsuccessful loans.

It emerged yesterday that Celtic have already been contacted by Boro about a few of their players, but it has been suggested an inflated £5m starting price has been put on Aussie striker McDonald.

And with Isaiah Osbourne (groin), Jeremie Aliadiere (ankle) and Emanuel Pogatetz (hamstring) all struggling to make Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Manchester City, Strachan’s options are severely limited.

The Scot, however, will be relieved to see Riggott available and turning in the sort of performance he did at Barnsley.

He had not played a competitive fixture since limping out of the defeat at Man City in February with ankle trouble.

“It was fantastic to play 90 minutes again; great to play again,” said Riggott, who was used as a late substitute against Scunthorpe on Boxing Day.

“In a way I enjoyed every minute of it but it’s a shame we didn’t come away with the victory.

“My emotions are mixed. I enjoyed being out there, felt leggy in the end, but it was a big relief for me. Hopefully I will remain in the team now for the rest of the season. 90 minutes will have helped me a great deal.”

Now Riggott, out of contract in the summer, wants to make sure Boro can revive promotion hopes, with five points separating them from the play-offs before sixthplaced Swansea head for Teesside on January 9.

He said: “Barnsley came out fighting on Monday, changed a few things and we buckled.

It wasn’t good enough and we have to defend better than that.

“On the evidence of Monday we were poor. We have to do better than we did.

“We didn’t create many chances. People talk about the talent we have going forward but we didn’t create much going forward.

“Then we conceded a couple of silly goals. As soon as the tide changed we didn’t have the belief we needed.

“We need to change that if we want to think about going up.”

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