Gordon Strachan tells Boro to get a wife

GORDON STRACHAN has become an instant hit with the women of Middlesbrough - by hinting that more of his players should get married.

The Scot was amazed to discover that only three of his squad have wives, and reckons the “responsibility” of getting hitched can improve a player.

Boro’s eligible Batchelor Boys need not fear for their freedom too much - Strachan says he won’t be playing matchmaker and finding them each a Missus.

Strachan, who inherited an inexperienced and youthful squad from Gareth Southgate, said: “Emanuel Pogatetz is one of only three players in the squad that are married. That’s quite unbelievable, in a world that should be for men.

“I have never come across that in my life. That’s how young we are. It’s a big miss.

“I’m not saying you have to be married to be a good footballer. I’m just saying it felt strange to come to a club where there are only three members of the first-team squad that are married.

“You need responsibility in life. I’m not going about finding wives for them, it was just a shock to me.”

Boro face Crystal Palace today needing to get their promotion hopes back on track. Strachan is looking for up to nine new players and could completely reshape his squad by the summer.

But he insisted: “There are no outstanding teams in the division right now. If there are two teams that go on good runs between now and the end of the season they will get promoted. We have to look to be that team.”

Strachan, meanwhile, has backed defender David Wheater to come through a slump in form. He said: “David is a top player. Like Rio Ferdinand, it depends who is criticising him. If it’s someone with good football knowledge we will take it on board.

“If they don’t have that, the only person he has to keep happy are myself and his team-mates. We are more than happy to have David in my team every week. To get the best out of players, you have to be treated right.”