Middlesbrough have announced that academy players Stephen Wearne and Nathan Dale have both signed professional contracts with the club. 

Boro confirmed the news on Twitter earlier today, also revealing that four academy players will depart the club in the summer.

Wearne, an 18-year-old attacking midfielder, has scored five goals in 11 league appearances for Boro's under-18s and has also featured regularly for their under-23 side.

Meanwhile, Dale, a 19-year-old central defender, has been with Boro since the age of nine and joins Wearne in signing his first professional deal.

Middlesbrough also confirmed that youngster Alex Pattison, who is currently on loan at Yeovil, Kieran Charlton, Nathan Guru, and Dan Ward would be leaving the club in the summer.

Meanwhile, Tony Pulis' first-team side kept their play-off hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Hull City at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro are currently seventh in the Championship table, one point behind sixth-placed Bristol City, although the Robins do have a game in hand.

Middlesbrough now face a Easter weekend double-header, facing Stoke City at the Riverside on Friday before travelling to Nottingham Forest on Monday.

The Verdict:

This is exciting news for Middlesbrough. It's always good to see young players do well for a club's academy and both Wearne and Dale deserve credit for what they have been able to achieve.

Both players clearly have a lot of potential and could have a big future ahead of them in the Boro first-team.