Signing will beef up Boro says boss Gordon Strachan

Nov 6 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

“I believe Steve and Keith have made numerous attempts to sign Adam up to a new contract with Middlesbrough. I know he is a top player.

“I have only known Adam two weeks and as a manager it’s very hard to speak to someone and commit yourself in that time, just as it is hard for him.

“For 18 months the club have been trying to get him to sign a new contract. There have been proposals put to him and his family, so we have to keep working because he is a talented lad, that’s for sure.”

Strachan is wary of Boro being saddled with the label of a ‘one-man’ side and admits that they must not rely on the highly-rated winger.

“There was a big hoo-ha about him missing a penalty, but he is entitled to do something wrong every now and again. I have taken them myself and it’s not easy. If you look at his record it is phenomenal. When he seems to be scoring and playing well we are fine. We must become a more whole team and not rely on one or two players.

“We need to be able to cope when players do have a day off so that we can still be successful.”

Meanwhile, Strachan emphasised that Osbourne will bring strength and muscle to a Boro side that has occasionally struggled against the Championship’s bully boys.

“I’ve known about Isaiah for about a year and he’ll bring us more strength in the midfield area where we’re definitely short on numbers,” he said. “He’s not a flair player, he’s what I’d call a continuity player, but he’ll also give us strength, height and get about the pitch.”