By Michael Ramsay

MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Aitor Karanka has confirmed that it was his decision to send Serbian defender Milos Veljkovic back to Tottenham Hotspur, following a disappointing three-month loan spell at the Riverside.

The 19-year-old played just four times for Boro and the Spaniard has claimed the White Hart Lane club wanted the teenager to remain at the Riverside.

“Tottenham wanted to keep the player here but I think for him it is better to play,” Karanka said. “I think for his development he needs to play, and I couldn’t grant him that.

"For him, for his future, it is better to play and I decided to send him back again to Tottenham. I don’t have any doubts that he is going to be a very good footballer but he needs to play because he is 19-years-old.

"Three more months here, I don’t think were going to be good for him. At that age you need to play and he is going to improve more playing in another team than training with us.”

Boro have no fresh injury worries ahead of their Championship clash with Huddersfield Town on Saturday, with defender Ryan Fredericks still out with a thigh injury.

The 22-year-old has missed the last seven games after limping off during a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on November 29.

Karanka has confirmed that, while the Tottenham loanee ‘won’t be fit for another one or two weeks’ to play for the first team, he will be taking part in an Under-21s game soon as he prepares to make a first-team comeback.