Middlesbrough FC news: Former defender questions Jonathan Woodgate as Rudy Gestede recalls Aston Villa regret

Dean Gordon played for Middlesbrough between 1998 and 2002.

Boro find themselves in the Championship relegation zone with 10 games to go, and Gordon has questioned the club’s summer appointment.

"I'm not sure if he's the right man, he's obviously been there all season,” Gordon told The Posh Boys radio show when asked about Woodgate.

“He went through a period a few weeks ago where they won two or three games and the fans thought they had turned the corner.

“He's been there, he's part of the furniture at the moment. I think it's a little bit late now to change the squad, to change the manager.

"I think if they went down, which obviously I hope they don't, but if they do go down, I think a change of manager would definitely have to happen. They've still got enough games this season to get themselves out of it."

Relegation is difficult to get over

Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede says relegation is a difficult setback to get over.

The 31-year-old frontman was part of the Aston Villa side which finished bottom of the Premier League in 2016, and admits it was a chastening experience.

“You don't want this,” said Gestede when asked about the possibility of going down with Boro. “Even if you are out of contract or if you’ve just signed a contract - or if you have a proposition from Madrid - you do not want this on your CV and you don't want to go down.

“Unfortunately, I have been in this situation already and it is difficult to get over it. I know what to do to stay up and know what we have to do to avoid going down. We have to stick together and have the mentality to work together.”

Bowyer hopeful for Boro boost

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer is hopeful midfielder Darren Pratley will be fit to face Boro this weekend.

The 34-year-old has been an ever-present for the Addicks this season but has missed the last six games with a back problem.

“Hopefully he'll be around for next weekend because we definitely miss him,” said Bowyer following Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Huddersfield.