Southgate - No new arrivals

Southgate: Not recruiting

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will not be dipping into the transfer market before the deadline.

The Boro boss has spent the early part of the season fending off claims Egypt forward Mido will be leaving for Wigan and Stewart Downing will be following him out of the Riverside for Liverpool, Tottenham or Everton.

However with the Teessiders' best start to a season in nine years following their 2-1 win over Stoke, Southgate has insisted there will be no new arrivals to touch down in the North East before 1st September.

"We are not doing any business between now and the end of Monday," he said.

"We felt the most important thing was to hang onto our best players and the size of the squad is just about right.

"That was the key for me, making sure the players we have got are with us."

Competition

The former Middlesbrough captain is spoilt for choice each week in the attacking department with Afonso Alves, Jeremie Aliadiere, Tuncay Sanli, Mido and new signing Marvin Emnes all pushing for first-team roles.

"There are several in the squad that are pushing for places and that competition is important," added Southgate.

"The difficult thing at the moment is whoever you pick or leave out, bring on or take off, it's the wrong thing.

"I suppose it is the right thing because people have got the goals and we have got the points.

"This squad is going to be important. They have all got to be ready and they have all got to pay their part."