Southgate: Yak had to go

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has revealed that Yakubu had to be sold as keeping him at the club had a negative effect on morale at the club. Yakubu was sold to Everton for £11.25m and has made an impressive start at the club.

Southgate said that the Nigerian was 'struggling emotionally', and this was having a negative effect on the team. Yakubu had long been unsettled at Middlesbrough, and Southgate felt playing the Nigerian striker in the 1-0 loss to Wigan was a mistake as the player's performance was clearly not up to scratch.

"When a player is unsettled to that point it's time to get the best possible deal for the club," Southgate explained.