Boro boss is keen to keep Johnson’s ‘special talent’

9:14am Tuesday 20th May 2008

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GARETH SOUTHGATE wants to keep Adam Johnson at Middlesbrough, labelling the young England prospect a very special talent' worth holding on to.

Everton and Tottenham are long-term admirers of the tricky left-winger and Johnson is known to have become frustrated with his lack of opportunities.

But Southgate feels the 20- year-old should remain patient, predicting next season will be a big year for the Easington-born winger if he stays at the Riverside Stadium.

Stewart Downing has been an ever-present in the Premier League this season, leaving his younger understudy stuck on the bench.

But with the future of Gary O'Neil up in the air, Johnson could be given an opportunity next season, on the right wing rather than his preferred left.

"Adam is a fantastic talent and I do not want to see him leave,"

said Southgate. "Maybe I may have to find him a new position.

I'll have to look at that. I know he can play on the right.

"If we alter how we play in the middle of the park that might help Adam and Stewart play together in the same team.

"I am not afraid to let people go on the basis that they might come back to haunt you.

"It might mean certain players have left here, had to go to get first team football, which they would not have achieved here.

But Adam could be very, very special and I would not want to see him play for another club."

Since making his debut in the UEFA Cup defeat to Sporting Lisbon three years ago, Johnson has made 14 Premier League starts.

He has been used as a substitute on a further 30 occasions, but Southgate has struggled to accommodate him and Downing.

A similar situation has presented itself with Lee Cattermole, with the midfielder's situation alerting Wigan.

"The hardest thing for some of our younger players is that they have got in the team too young in terms of having had more Premier League exposure than really they are ready for," said Southgate.

"Adam is a classic example of that. He got in the first team at 17 or 18 and I do not think he was ready to go in there. It means that three years down the line he is only 20.

"He has been around the first team for three years and he does not feel he is progressing, but he has had more involvement in the first team than most playuers of his age. Lee Cattermole is the same."

It has emerged that another player under consideration to fill the void vacated by Fabio Rochemback is Sheffield United's promising Irishman Stephen Quinn.

Quinn, 22, scored two goals in his last three appearances for the Blades in the Championship and his emergence has been noted in the Premier League.