Middlesbrough coach explains confusing Dejan Stojanovic situation and Anfernee Dijksteel plan after Newcastle defeat

The 26-year-old stopper signed for the Teessiders in January for a reported £1million but hasn’t even been on the bench for the senior side.

Boro head coach Jonathan Woodgate has said Stojanovic is pushing fellow goalkeepers Aynsley Pears and Tomas Mejias but needs to earn his place.

Stojanovic has now played two games for the club’s under-23 side, against Crystal Palace and Newcastle, as he tries to break into the first team.

Lee was asked about Stojanovic following his side’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle Under-23s in Premier League 2, Division 2, on Friday night.

“He obviously needs some game time,” Lee told the Mail. “The good thing from himself is he’s asking to play the games.

“He’s not getting told he’s asking because he wants to play games and wants to stay sharp. If players want to do that then brilliant, they’ll play for us.

“The manager tells us he’s asked to play the games and he comes in and has done a good job when he does.

“He’s a great lad, the first one in the changing rooms, appreciates the game time and wants to prove himself.”

Boro defender Anfernee Dijksteel also played against Newcastle at Heritage Park and was withdrawn just after the hour mark.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined since the end of November with a knee injury and recently returned to first-team training.

Fellow defenders George Friend and Ryan Shotton also returned from long-term setbacks earlier this month and played multiple games for the under-23 side as part of their recoveries.

Lee thinks the club will take a similar approach with Dijksteel, who is expected to clock up more minutes before making his senior comeback.

When asked if the defender will play another game for the under-23 side, Lee said: “I’d imagine he will, they’ll try to build the minutes up like they did with Shotts and with George.

“The first team will dictate to us on their minutes and what they want and we’ll just advise them.”