Middlesbrough FC news: Former coach makes Leeds United switch as Jonny Howson opens up

Foster will become the new head of coaching for the academy at Elland Road, a role he occupied on Teesside following his appointment in 2017.

Leeds have been looking to fill the void following Richard Cresswell's departure in the summer.

Reports have suggested Boro are close to finding a replacement after assessing both internal and external options.

Howson opens up on Boro struggles

Midfielder turned right-back Jonny Howson has been one of Boro’s most consistent performers over the last two seasons, yet that hasn’t always been the case.

Howson, now 31, signed for Boro from Norwich in the summer of 2017 and initially struggled under Garry Monk at the Riverside.

During an in-depth interview with BBC Tees Sport, Howson was asked about that sticky spell, to which he replied: “There are certainly moments when you start to doubt yourself that’s nothing new.

“I must admit that’s probably the first time in my career that I probably thought I’m going through a real tough time from a personal point of view in regards to form.

“Irrespective of what the team was doing, I believe first and foremost you look at yourself and I certainly knew at the time I was struggling and I think sometimes you can try too hard.

“I believe that was the case of it was something new to me, I’m not saying I’ve never had a bad game but it was going on for quite a while and it wasn’t clicking.

“Certainly coming through that, that lack of confidence, it makes you stronger as well.”

Barnsley confident of survival

Boro’s Championship rivals Barnsley appointed a new head coach on Wednesday as Austrian Gerhard Struber took charge at Oakwell.

The Tykes are bottom of the Championship and haven’t won since the opening day of the season, yet Struber is confident they can beat the drop.

Barnsley’s chief executive Dane Murphy said: "Gerhard made it quite clear that he believes in our project and has confidence that the club can remain in the Sky Bet Championship under his stewardship, which is the club’s main objective for this season."