Preparations hit fever pitch at Rockliffe

PLAYERS RETURN TO GRASS

- By CRAIG JOHNS

MIDDLESBROUGH players were back on the grass yesterday for the first time under Rob Edwards, as their new-season preparations stepped up.

With the exception of international stars, and Alex Gilbert, who was part of Charlton Athletic’s League One play-off triumph, Edwards took his Boro side onto the pitches at Rockliffe for the first time as pre-season got properly under way. Gilbert, along with Tom Glover, Riley McGree, Aidan Morris and Tommy Conway, were all given extended breaks.

They were all back in yesterday to undergo their post-summer fitness tests and they quickly rejoined the rest of the Boro squad in the afternoon.