New number for Conway, but a clear desire for extra players

MOST Middlesbrough players are now back at Rockliffe preparing for the new season, with Rob Edwards taking his new squad onto the grass and getting the footballs out for the first time this summer on Monday.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

Having gone through the physical testing after returning at the end of last week, the new Boro head coach was able to get his newly-inherited players out on the pitches as his work to get Boro ready for the new season and the opening game against Swansea City stepped up.

Still absent are Hayden Hackney and Rav van den Berg, who both took part in this summer's U21s Euros and aren't expected back until later this month.

Skipper Jonny Howson’s future remains uncertain too, with his contract expiring at the end of last season and still no clarity on whether he will sign an extension or not.

As the club chronicled their first official day of pre-season through pictures and a video of the return to training, here are five things we spotted.

TOMMY CONWAY'S NEW NUMBER AND MESSAGE

TOMMY Conway was one of the players enjoying their first day back at the club. He was given a few extra days off after representing Scotland earlier in the summer. Sporting the new Boro training kit, it looked as though Conway will have a new squad number for the new season.

Having worn the number 22 in his debut season at the club, Conway's kit could be seen with the number 9 above the Castore logo.

He appeared to confirm the change as he posted a picture of himself in the kit of social media with the caption ‘Point to prove’.

Until squad numbers are officially confirmed, it’s worth avoiding getting ‘Conway 9’ printed on the back of your new Boro shirts, of course, but it would appear Conway has been given the honour.

The number nine shirt is sacred to any striker and was vacant this summer after Kelechi Iheanacho’s exit at the end of last season following his failed loan move. He'd taken the number off Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Boro plan to sign a striker this summer, but Edwards appears to have already put a great deal of early faith in the 22-year-old.