TONY PULIS admits he does not see Dael Fry spending the rest of his career at right-back, but the Middlesbrough manager claims the youngster could massively benefit from a run of games in the position.

Despite spending the vast majority of his career so far playing at centre-half, Fry has lined up at right-back in the last two matches, with his efforts helping Boro record clean sheets against Stoke City and Wigan Athletic.

With Ryan Shotton injured and Paddy McNair on the substitutes’ bench, Fry has slotted in effectively on the right of the back four.

The England Under-21 international has always been a technically adept defender, and while tearing up and down the flank might not be especially natural to him, he delivered a number of dangerous crosses during Saturday’s win over Wigan.

In the long term, Pulis envisages Fry returning to his preferred position of centre-half, but having briefly experimented with the Teessider in central midfield during Middlesbrough’s pre-season matches, the Boro boss insists he will benefit from experiencing a number of different roles.

“I was really pleased with Dael at the weekend,” said Pulis, who is taking his players to a training camp at RAF Leeming during the international break. “But the big thing with Dael is that he has to believe in himself.

“You watch him train, and he can play anywhere. He’s a top, top player, and playing right-back won’t do him any harm at the moment. I don’t see him as a right-back, but four or five of his crosses were absolute top drawer (against Wigan), and then when he’s called upon to defend, he does the job.”

Fry was due to be away on international duty for the rest of this week, but the defender has withdrawn from the England Under-21s squad for matches against Italy and Denmark. He does not have any major injury issues, however, and should be available when Boro return to Championship duty at Brentford a week on Saturday.

As well as shuffling Fry to right-back, Pulis has also named Danny Batth alongside Aden Flint in Boro’s last two games.

He didn’t really have any other choice when his side travelled to Stoke without the suspended Daniel Ayala, but he could easily have restored the previously-outstanding Ayala to his starting line-up last weekend.

The fact that he didn’t speaks volumes for just how highly he rates Batth, who is on a season-long loan from Wolves.

“I think big Batthy deserved the chance to continue the way he’s played,” said Pulis. “And he played well again (against Wigan). I was pleased. We chased the game a little bit at times and got caught two-on-two at the back, but the big fella (Flint) alongside Danny was brilliant as well.”

Boro’s international contingent are set for a busy couple of weeks, and Thursday’s friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland could see three of the club’s players involved.

Darren Randolph has been named in Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland squad, while Michael O’Neill has selected McNair and George Saville for Northern Ireland.

All three players are set for an international double-header, with the Republic following up the friendly with a Nations League game in Denmark and Northern Ireland set to host Austria in Belfast on Sunday.

The Republic’s final Nations League game could pit Randolph against Martin Braithwaite, with the Boro forward having been named in the Denmark squad. The Danes also play a friendly in Wales on Friday night.

Two of Boro’s youngsters are in action tomorrow, with Stephen Walker set to line up for England Under-19s against Moldova and Nathan Wood due to start for England Under-17s against Czech Republic.