Why canny Strachan could lead Middlesbrough to promotion this season

By James Nursey

Published 22:29 01/07/10

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Boro fans must still be dubious about Gordon Strachan as their manager given the side's lacklustre form under the Scot last season.

But I reckon this coming campaign will be a different story for Boro as the canny Strachan puts his stamp on the club, who finished 11th last term after sacking Gareth Southgate.

I revealed in April that Strachan was adopting a hardline stance with his squad by ordering them on a summer boot camp in Spain during their holidays.

Boro boss Strachan orders his players back off their holidays for extra training

And while the jaunt to La Manga may not have been overly popular with many of the players who had to cancel their holiday plans, it should at least ensure the squad are among the fittest in the Championship.

Strachan has been busy cracking the whip to improve his players' fitness levels this summer for the marathon that is the Championship season.

And he is also closing in on a raft of promising players that should significantly improve his squad, who returned for pre-season training on Monday.

Charlton captain and goal-scoring midfielder Nicky Bailey, 26, is due to finally sign this week after I reported Boro were leading the race for his signature.

Bailey to have Boro medical before £1.4m move  

And my source at The Riverside also tells me Boro hope to sign Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper,22, Celtic defender Stephen McManus, 27, and 20-year-old highly-rated Rochdale centre-back Craig Dawson.

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