MIDDLESBROUGH are set to offer captain Jonny Howson a new contract as manager Chris Wilder lauded his impact on the season.

The 33-year-old’s, who has featured 49 times and scored one goal for Boro this season, was voted the club’s Player of the Year at their recent end of year awards.

He sees his current deal run out in the summer and the midfielder told media last week that he wasn’t sure where his future lied.

However, in the wake of Boro’s 4-1 defeat to Preston North End, manager Chris Wilder hinted that he wants to keep his hard-working midfielder at the club and extend his five year stay at the club.

Wilder said: “I think Jonny Howson was one player I can rely on from a mentality point of view and today he looked at home and comfortable in the game. He was a leader today and by far our best performer.

"We’ve not published our retained list, but I should imagine, with the impact that you’ve seen from him this season, he’s been our best player, so I think there is a good opportunity that we might be offering him a new contract.”

Howson has played 229 games since signing on a permanent deal from Norwich City in the summer of 2017 and scored six goals in all competitions.

Boro are set to publish their retained list in the coming days following today's result at Preston North End as Boro missed out on the chance of reaching the Championship play-offs.

Chris Wilder delivered an honest assessment of his side's 4-1 loss at Deepdale as Boro finish the season in 7th place.