Boro eye New Zealander

Lochead: Boro trial

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Middlesbrough have handed a trial to New Zealand international Tony Lochead.

The 26-year-old currently plays for Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League and has been recommended to Boro boss Gareth Southgate

The left-back will now spend the next ten days on Teesside trying to earn a move to the Premier League.

Lochead's name was put forward to Southgate by Ricki Herbet - coach of Phoenix.

Trial

"Ricki came up to me and had a little word and said there could be something happening, so it's just progressed from there," said Lochhead.

"So I didn't really see it coming, but I'm really excited about it.

"He's [Gareth Southgate] has got a couple of young left backs in the team at the moment and he wanted someone to come in and try and push them for a place in the team, and that's something I think I could potentially do."

Southgate says he is happy to take a look at Lochead: "Ricki has an understanding of the Premier League and what's needed," Southgate told 3 News.

"We've got to know Ricki pretty well. He's been over on the pro-licence in England and he's spoken in glowing terms about Tony as somebody he thinks could make the step into the Premier League."

Boro are seemingly well stocked at left-back with Andrew Taylor and Jonathan Grounds both pushing captain Emanuel Pogatetz for a starting role, but should Lochead impress he could present another option for Southgate.

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