St Ledger joins Middlesbrough on loan

REPUBLIC of Ireland international defender Sean St Ledger has joined Middlesbrough from Preston on a three-month loan deal with a view to a permanent move in January.

The 24-year-old defender joined Preston in the summer of 2006 and played more than 130 games for them.

Meanwhile, Stoke’s Irish midfielder Glenn Whelan has committed his future to the club by signing a new four-year contract.