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Southgate: Alves must fight

27 March 2008 - 21:21

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has told his club record signing Afonso Alves that he must fight for a first team place. Seven appearances for the Brazilian have not helped the player make first-team impressions, and he has found a lot of time on the subs bench.

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"He has hardly had any time on the field for us, really. When you bring a player in for that sort of fee, it immediately attracts a lot more attention," Southgate said.



"Tuncay Sanli was a free and Jeremie Aliadiere was £2million, and that does not carry the weight of expectation for them. But in training and when I am picking the team, I do not view them any differently just because one has come for a large sum of money. We treat them all the same and pick the team on the same basis.



"I know it is going to take him time - I said that from the day we signed him and nothing has changed in that respect. I am quite comfortable with that situation."

Written by majicka