TONY PULIS expects Dael Fry to enjoy an extremely bright future, but has warned the Middlesbrough defender he is not yet ready to start thinking about playing in the Premier League.

Fry made his 12th Championship start of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Brentford, and capped a fine all-round display with the cross that led to Marcus Tavernier scoring Boro’s second goal.

The England Under-21 international is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the Championship, and was recently linked with both Manchester United and Chelsea, who have scouted him on a number of occasions in the last 18 months.

Pulis can understand why the Teessider is getting so much attention, but while he has been delighted with his recent performances at right-back, he remains adamant he is still some way short of being the finished article.

“I’ve worked in the Premier League, and he’s not ready yet,” said the Boro boss. “Dael could be anything though, he could be anything and play anywhere.

“He’s quick and he’s strong, but the problem with Dael is the number of games he’s played compared to what he should have played. It’s the same with Tav (Tavernier) and Wingy (Lewis Wing). We’ve got some good kids, and they’ll have their chances.”

Tavernier and Wing have performed impressively this season, but if Pulis is able to make attacking reinforcements in January, there is a chance both players could be sent out on loan.

Neither Aitor Karanka nor Garry Monk was especially keen to utilise the loan system to provide Middlesbrough’s emerging youngsters with regular first-team football, something Pulis feels has stinted their progress.

“We have to be careful with them because they’re all young and they haven’t played as much football as they should have,” said Pulis. “Academies have changed a bit, and now they’re not allowing their kids to get stale in Under-19 or Under-21 football, they’re allowing them to go out and play. That’s what these kids need.

“Our kids haven’t played as much as they should have, so we have to be careful. But they can be good players for this football club.”