Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate provides Aynsley Pears contract update after impressive Leeds United display

Aynsley Pears has made 21 Championship appearances for Middlesbrough this season.

Pears, 21, will see his current deal expire this summer, yet it is believed Boro have an option of an extra year.

Boro youngsters Hayden Coulson, Marcus Tavernier and Djed Spence have all signed new deals this season, yet negotiations with Pears are taking longer than anticipated.

Woodgate says he has left the situation with Boro’s chief executive Neil Bausor, and expects the keeper to agree new terms.

"I’m sure it will get done sooner rather than later,” said Woodgate when asked about Pears. “I’m not 100 per cent but Neil knows more than me on that situation."

Pears was set to go out on loan to Macclesfield at the start of the season but stayed at Boro following an injury to Darren Randolph in pre-season.

Since then, Pears has established himself as the Teessiders’ No 1 option between the sticks following Randolph’s departure to West Ham in January.

Boro have not kept a clean sheet for nine Championship games, yet Woodgate says his goalkeeper’s standards have remained high.

"Look at the games, at Barnsley he didn’t have loads to do, Luton minimal, he should have saved one at Wigan,” said Woodgate, when asked about Pears’ performances.

"I can’t remember too many where he’s had saves to make, he hasn’t really been tested and in the Leeds game he made some good saves.

"I’ve been impressed with him, remember at the start of the season he was going on loan at one point.

“He was doing that well in training and we decided he wasn’t going."

Boro signed goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic in January but the 26-year-old has not even been on the bench for the Teessiders.

"He’s pushing Tommy (Mejias) and Aynsley and Tommy and Aynsley are doing just as well as him,” said Woodgate, when quizzed on Stojanovic.

"Just because I paid £1million for someone doesn't mean I’m just going to put them in. He’s got to keep on wanting to work, which he’s doing. He wants to play games and is showing a fantastic attitude. "