Club must Howson to

GET him signed up again soon! Let's hope that a deal can quickly be agreed to keep Jonny Howson on the playing staff for another 12 months.

- ERIC PAYLOR

He may have reached the age of 37, and with more than 750 career appearances under his belt, but he's clearly a great guy to have around both on and off the pitch.

Howson is one of those players who only knows how to play one way, and that's to put his heart and soul into every performance, no matter where he is playing or the standard of the opposition.

Players like him are few and far between. Bryan Robson, in his playing career, was exactly the same.

In this respect Howson is bound to have an inspirational effect on the players around him.

He didn't have the best of luck last season, being sidelined for a long spell through injury. That might have been one of the reasons why Boro at times appeared to lack spark.