Be the Best!

Gareth Southagte has, today, told his £5 million new signing Gary O'Neil that he wants him to take his career to a new level with Boro.

Southgate has had his eye on O'Neil since taking over the reigns from Steve McLaren last season and was just delighted to finally sign the 24-year-old on transfer deadline day.

"He is exactly the kind of professional I want at this club. He’s in the right age bracket and he has the hunger that we are looking for."

With the number of quality midfielders Boro have available and the promise of a regular spot, it is believed that O'Neil can expect a role in Boro's right side of midfield, meaning that fellow new boy Tuncay might have to work even harder to force Mido or Aliadiere out of the striker position. However Tuncay will always be an option, if needed, on the right.

However this means that Southgate may have a potential selection nightmare. He'll want to try and fit the new boys in somewhere, but with Julio Arca and Fabio Rochemback playing well together and with captain George Boateng being a guaranteed selection along with Stewart Downing, Southgate will have to do some serious thinking because he'll need to fit in O'Neil and Shawky around Arca, Rochemback, Boateng, Cattermole and Downing with Adam Johnson, Jason Kennedy and Josh Walker pushing through from the Academy and Reserves as well as Gaizka Mendieta, who has recently vowed to push for a recall to the first team.

However Southgate has always remained confident that competition for places is only going to improve the team and the player mentality.

And I suppose he's right, if you have so many quality players all wanting to get into the first team then they are all going to give 110% in order cement a position in the squad.