This is why Burnley defender Ben Gibson is back training at Middlesbrough

The 27-year-old joined the Turf Moor outfit for a fee of around £15million in the summer of 2018, but has struggled to make his mark in the top flight.

He looked set to seal an exit in January, with Boro one of a number of clubs monitoring the situation.

It was Watford, however, who were the frontrunners for his signature but the Hornets saw their bid for Gibson collapse at the last minute.

And according to the Daily Mail, that left Gibson frustrated and placed even more strain on the fractured relationship between club and player.

The Mail report also suggests that a recent training ground incident irked Gibson further, as they claim: “There is thought to have been a disagreement between Burnley and Gibson recently, sparked when members of the coaching staff discussed his performance in a training session with him.

“It was then mooted that Gibson would go to work with the Clarets’ Under 23 squad, before it was decided that, for the time being, Gibson should work away from the club.”

And Gibson is now believed to be back training on Teesside, with the Mail claiming that the centre back was set to join-up with the Boro squad on Wednesday.

Gibson remains under contract at Turf Moor until 2022, and is understood to have a strong relationship with Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate having grown-up idolising the centre back.