Football Season Guide

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray has been slowly building a team capable of getting out of the second tier. His transfer dealings this summer have been very encouraging for Reds supporters with a good mix of promising youngsters and seasoned campaigners arriving on Teeside. Homegrown talent Jonathan Woodgate has returned for a further spell at the club since departing Premier League outfit Stoke City. The defender will be a fantastic addition to the backline providing he can stay clear of serious injury. Meanwhile Grant Leadbitter is a solid performer in the engine room and combined with the flair of Argentine Emmanuel Ledesma, Boro should have plenty to hurt Championship defences this term. Mowbray will be mindful of last season's campaign, after getting off to a fantastic start and fading in the latter stages of the season to miss out on a top six finish in seventh place. With a bigger squad Mowbray will be hoping his side can cope with the demands of a 46-game calendar.