JONATHAN WOODGATE has warned Middlesbrough’s senior players not to take their positions for granted as they approach the start of the new season.

Boro will play their fourth pre-season game on Saturday when they travel to Germany to take on FC Heidenheim, and with the opening weekend of the Championship season now just over a fortnight away, thoughts are turning to the likely make-up of Woodgate’s starting line-up for his side’s season opener at Kenilworth Road.

Last season, the core of Tony Pulis’ starting side was easy to predict, with Woodgate’s predecessor prioritising experience and reliability over youth and potential.

Woodgate promises to be different, and while plenty of players have remained since the end of last term, the new head coach insists no one is guaranteed a place in the team that will kick off against Luton.

“Every place is up for grabs, from the goalkeeper to the striker,” said Woodgate. “It’s not a case of, ‘Well he’s going to play’ or ‘He’s definitely going to play’. I’m telling you now – whoever is playing well will play. It’s simple.”

That extends to the players who are working their way back to full fitness after missing last week’s matches against Gateshead and Hartlepool United.

Dael Fry, Daniel Ayala and George Friend are influential members of the squad, and all three should be available by the start of next month. However, they will have to fight hard for a starting spot, with a number of youngsters having proved their mettle in the opening weeks of pre-season.

“I hope the three lads (Fry, Ayala, Friend) will be ready for the start of the season, but they’re fighting for positions,” said Woodgate. “When Dael and Danny come back, they’ll be fighting for a place in the team. The same is true of George. He’s got people to push him – Paddy Reading and Hayden Coulson are pushing George Friend.”

If Friend remains the senior option at left-back, then Jonny Howson appears to have displaced Ryan Shotton as the number one selection on the opposite side of the back four.

Shotton has been lining up at centre-half, with Howson filling the right-back berth, and having played as a wing-back under Pulis last season, the latter appears to have made a long-term switch from midfield.

Woodgate will select Howson as a midfielder if required, but the 31-year-old looks like spending most of next season in the back four.

“Jonny can play right-back, he can play eight, he can play ten, he can play wide right,” said Woodgate. “At the minute, he’s doing a job for me at right-back and I think he’s going to be very good for us. Will he be playing there for us in the Championship? He’s got a chance.”

Boro are yet to make a signing on Woodgate’s watch, and while the head coach remains confident there will be new arrivals before the transfer window closes on August 8, he is unconcerned at the lack of action so far.

“I’m sure there’ll be ins and outs in the next three weeks, but there’s no pressure to do something,” he said. “We’ll get the players in when we need them. We’re not going to rush. If the player’s not right, I’m not a manager who would get them in anyway for the sake of it.

“If there’s something to do, and it’s the right one, then we’ll do it. But we need to wait for the right one to come. Everyone’s clamouring saying, ‘Oh, there’s three weeks to go’. There’s plenty of time.”