Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has challenged his players to prove they have a future at the Riverside Stadium as his first season reaches its conclusion.
The Teessiders entertain Aston Villa tomorrow sitting 13th in the Barclays Premiership table having virtually secured their top-flight status with last Saturday's comprehensive 4-1 home victory over Watford.
They now have six games in which to achieve their target of a top-half finish as an eventful campaign draws to a close with the manager considering the way forward.
His main priority over the remaining weeks of the season is to tie up the futures of on-loan defender Jonathan Woodgate and out-of-contract striker Mark Viduka.
However, he admits there are other decisions yet to be made, and there is still the potential for players to make their own cases.
Southgate said: "I have got lots of things to consider, but there are still another six games to go and I have not made decisions on all those situations.
"We have just under a quarter of the season to go and I still think there are opportunities for people to show what they can do to fight for a place or to fight for a future here.
"I am looking for the team to show a different mentality. We have had a couple of years where we have had finishes to the season which have been poor and the season has petered out.
"I am expecting that to change, but it is easy to sit here and talk about it. We have to show it on the field."
Villa currently lie one place below Boro on goal difference - having played one game more - and it would represent something of a coup for Southgate to get one over on his former club and their experienced manager, Martin O'Neill.
That said, their run-in includes trips to Liverpool, Manchester United and Wigan and with only one league away win to their name all season, the Teessiders are aware that situation has to be addressed.
Southgate said: "That underlines the need for a different approach in the away fixtures and tells me a bit about our mentality and what needs changing.
"If we keep repeating the same procedures, we will end up with the same results, so we have to change things a bit."
Southgate will hope to have defender Real Madrid centre-half Woodgate back from a hamstring problem and midfielder Julio Arca following a groin injury, while midfielder Lee Cattermole has completed a two-match ban.
However, Emanuel Pogatetz and James Morrison are still suspended.
They now have six games in which to achieve their target of a top-half finish as an eventful campaign draws to a close with the manager considering the way forward.
His main priority over the remaining weeks of the season is to tie up the futures of on-loan defender Jonathan Woodgate and out-of-contract striker Mark Viduka.
However, he admits there are other decisions yet to be made, and there is still the potential for players to make their own cases.
Southgate said: "I have got lots of things to consider, but there are still another six games to go and I have not made decisions on all those situations.
"We have just under a quarter of the season to go and I still think there are opportunities for people to show what they can do to fight for a place or to fight for a future here.
"I am looking for the team to show a different mentality. We have had a couple of years where we have had finishes to the season which have been poor and the season has petered out.
"I am expecting that to change, but it is easy to sit here and talk about it. We have to show it on the field."
Villa currently lie one place below Boro on goal difference - having played one game more - and it would represent something of a coup for Southgate to get one over on his former club and their experienced manager, Martin O'Neill.
That said, their run-in includes trips to Liverpool, Manchester United and Wigan and with only one league away win to their name all season, the Teessiders are aware that situation has to be addressed.
Southgate said: "That underlines the need for a different approach in the away fixtures and tells me a bit about our mentality and what needs changing.
"If we keep repeating the same procedures, we will end up with the same results, so we have to change things a bit."
Southgate will hope to have defender Real Madrid centre-half Woodgate back from a hamstring problem and midfielder Julio Arca following a groin injury, while midfielder Lee Cattermole has completed a two-match ban.
However, Emanuel Pogatetz and James Morrison are still suspended.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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