Aitor Karanka has confirmed that Jason Steele has been offered the chance to leave Boro.
However, the Spaniard also revealed that the former England Under-21 keeper opted to stay and fight for his place.
Karanka admitted Steele is not his first or second choice goalie as things stand, so it’s still possible the 24-year-old could have a change of heart and move on before the transfer window closes on Monday night.
The Boro boss is keeping an open mind, saying: “Jason knows the situation. I said if he has a good choice to go then for me it wasn’t a problem, but he decided to stay here and if he is here after Monday he will be available for selection.
“I told him one or two months ago if he had another choice (option) he could go. For this reason he knows that he is not my first choice or my second choice but if he decides to stay he is under contract and he is our keeper.”
Steele is third in the pecking order behind Spanish stopper Tomas Mejias and Greek goalie Dimi Konstantopoulos, though those rankings haven’t met with universal approval from a section of the Boro support.
Mejias has yet to convince the Riverside faithful that he warrants a regular place in the starting XI but Karanka insists his compatriot has his unqualified support.
“I have a lot of confidence in him,” he said. “I trust 100% in him and I would prefer it if the supporters would criticise me if they don’t agree with the selection, not the player.
“The goalkeeper position is a different position and I have to be very careful with my decisions. It’s not like the striker position, where you can (regularly) take one out and move one in.
“We have eight or nine months in front of us where we will play a lot of games and I have to be very sure about my decision but I trust 100% in Tomas, in Dimi and in Jason and Connor Ripley because they are all my keepers.
“Sometimes the crowd have doubts about one player and it’s better for me if the criticism comes to me. The players I choose, I want the crowd to support them.
“I want the crowd to support the 11 players I select and if they want to criticise, then they criticise me. All the players deserve the support of our crowd.”
Karanka signed Mejias earlier this summer from Real Madrid on a two-year contract and thinks the 25-year-old will soon adapt to the rigours of the English Championship.
“Tomas is learning,” he said. “He’s from Spain and it’s a different way of playing out there but I can’t change keeper every game.
“I have to bring one keeper in thinking of the entire season.
“I have no doubts that Tomas will develop and be a good keeper for us for a long time,” he added.
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