Southgate makes case for defence as Reds held

GARETH SOUTHGATE is not certain to be the manager of Middlesbrough by the end of this week, but the former England international has received a cruel reminder that he made the right choice when he retired as a player at the end of last season.

One of the club’s medical team effectively rubber-stamped Southgate’s decision on Friday when he eased away from him in the weekly five-a-side involving backroom staff at the Riverside.

“He left me for dead, so it was definitely the right decision to hang up my boots.”