Southgate hails Huth arrival

Gareth Southgate has welcomed the news that Robert Huth is joining Middlesbrough.

The Chelsea defender has agreed to join Boro following the World Cup finals - after he turned down a host of rival offers.

Southgate is likely to see Huth as a direct replacement for himself, after he was appointed as Riverside supremo last week.

"I'm absolutely delighted that Robert is my first signing," beamed Southgate, currently in Germany working as a media pundit on the World Cup finals.

"He's a player who has already benefited from Premiership, European and international experience. For someone of such young age, that is very rare.

"But for an injury a week or so ago, he'd have been starting in Germany's team in the World Cup, so he has been unfortunate.

"I met Robert last week, a couple of days before I was confirmed as manager.

"Robert needed to hear what our plans were and what we were looking to do.

"I was really impressed with the fact that he didn't just want to sit at Chelsea, even though he was winning things. He wants to play.

"That's exactly the sort of attitude I'm looking for. He needed time to think about it and decide if it was the right move for him, and that was fine too.

"I didn't want him to rush. He has considered it and has now got back to me to say `yes', he wants to come to Middlesbrough.

"I look forward to working with Robert."