Middlesbrough have today confirmed that several youngsters will be released at the end of the season, with Alex Pattison among those to depart.

The 21-year-old is way down the pecking order at the Riverside, with Tony Pulis sanctioning a loan move for the attacking midfielder at the start of the season to Yeovil.

And, the club announced on their official site that he was one of four who will not be offered new terms. Obviously, that will be a blow for the youngster, who has been at Boro since he was a nine-year-old.

Marcus Tavernier has been a teammate with Pattison in the youth teams for the past six years and he sent a positive message to his friend, following a tweet from the player.

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"All the best my man been a pleasure."

It remains to be seen what the next step will be for Pattison, who has featured regularly for the Glovers this season, although his immediate focus is on helping his current side remain in the Football League.

Yeovil are currently in the relegation zone and two points behind Macclesfield with four games to play.

The Verdict

This is always a tough time for the clubs and the players as decisions have to be made regarding contracts and new deals.

But, it's part and parcel of football and realistically Pattison will have known his time would be up at Boro.

It's a shame but his tweet proves he has enjoyed his time with the club and he will appreciate the messages of support, including from former teammate Tavernier.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.