Should they stay or should they go?

WHEN all is said and done and Middlesbrough's fate for next season is decided one way or the other, the futures of Jonny Howson and Anfernee Dijksteel will be the immediate priority.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

The pair are both out of contract at the end of this season, and are both content with the fact that such discussions have been put on hold until after the campaign as Boro push for a play-off spot, and a chance of Premier League promotion.

They're not the only contract situations Boro are likely to look closely at over the summer though.

There are seven first-team players who will have just one year remaining on the Boro deals when the current season comes to an end.

Dael Fry, Dan Barlaser, Tom Glover, Sammy Silvera, Luke Ayling, Darragh Lenihan, and Marcus Forss are therefore all players that Boro will likely make decisions on with regard to longer-term futures.

Which begs the question, of the seven, who deserves new contracts?

That was the question we posed to our fan panel, which this week consists of Youtuber and talkSport journalist Phil Spencer, Boro Breakdown co-host Dana Malt, Boropolis co-founder Chris Cassidy and Twe12th Man member John Donovan. Their response was unanimous.

DANA MALT

I'd offer Fry and Forss new deals. Their recent injury woes are particularly notable, but should they maintain fitness, they could be key performers for Boro in the mid-term.

You could say the same for Darragh Lenihan, but given the length of time he's been sidelined for, it's probable he'll need even more time post-injury to get up to speed - and there's no guarantee that will even happen.

I must admit, when Tommy Smith announced his retirement after his own long-term injury lay-off, I did wonder if Lenihan could follow suit.