Aitor Karanka says Jonathan Woodgate can play a part for Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka is refusing to write veteran defender Jonathan Woodgate out of his plans for next season.

The 35-year-old has played two games this week just months after seriously considering retirement, and could yet have a major role to play in the remainder of the club's promotion campaign and beyond.

Karanka told the Northern Echo: "I've been speaking with him for a year and a half every single day. Both of us know that the best thing is to manage it day by day, because we can forget that five months ago, he was thinking about retiring.

"We need to finish this season and then at the end of the season, Woody can do whatever he wants, because for me he's an amazing player and an amazing man. If Woody played at Real Madrid, it wasn't a coincidence, it's because he's intelligent.

"I think he feels it's difficult for him to stay for one more year, but I can't say anything today because maybe he plays for the next eight games and is very important for us in the promotion race, and he's fit for next season.

"Woody is Middlesbrough. More than me, Woody is a legend - more than a legend because he is showing everybody, especially in the last two or three games, that he lives for this club and he's the perfect person to work here."

Meanwhile, Boro defender George Friend is taking nothing for granted as he and his team-mates attempt to complete a perfect week.

The Teessiders headed into a crucial run of Sky Bet Championship fixtures knowing it could go a long way to determining the destiny of their season, and after victories over promotion rivals Ipswich and Derby, travel to the Goldsands Stadium hoping to return with a maximum nine points from the three games.

However, Friend knows Eddie Howe's men, who are just two points shy of top two Watford and Boro, will be determined not to allow that to happen.

He told the club's official website: "Bournemouth is probably going to be the toughest out of the three because of the way they play. They don't change that for anyone.

"It's a tight ground and if we wanted to get some confidence, we've done it in the right way.

"There are games after that, but we'll be looking at Bournemouth. We've taken the high from Derby, but now it's back to the drawing board and we'll make sure no one's getting too excited."