MIDDLESBROUGH boss Aitor Karanka has revealed he might choose not to send highly-rated teenage defender Dael Fry back out on loan.

Karanka recalled the locally produced centre-back early from his loan at Rotherham earlier this month.

Fry, 19, was asked to train with Gareth Southgate’s England squad in October but his last of ten appearances for Rotherham was in November, so the decision was made to take him back to Teesside.

Karanka is a big admirer of the youngster and feels he is better off under his watch than heading out on loan somewhere if he is not going to play.

“We were expecting him to play more at Rotherham but to be there without playing or to be here training with us, for him and for us, it’s better to have him here to keep going with his development,” said Karanka.

“I think it will be difficult as there needs to be a club who can offer him to play every single day, he's now 19-years-old and needs to play, but at least if he's not playing here he can train in this environment. He's ready to train, so we just need to find a place for him to play.”

Karanka has already allowed midfielder Julien de Sart to join Derby and goalkeeper Tomas Mejias to head for Rayo Vallecano, both on loan.

And he said: “Julien asked me my thoughts and I told him that the best thing for a player like him, young and a good player, is to play. Derby is a team which I was pleased when I heard as they play our style, the manager, the club. It's a good move for him and it's a good move for Derby as he's a very good player with a bright future.

“Tomas is good for both of us, for him to play and to show he's a good keeper and if he does well he can come back. We have space for a goalkeeper, especially if they're playing and they're confident. That would be a headache for me.”