Middlesbrough defender Ryan Shotton has hinted he didn't enjoy operating in the right-back role he was assigned by Tony Pulis last term.

Shotton has been ever-present for Jonathan Woodgate's side in the Championship this campaign with Boro having experienced a mixed bag of results so far which sees them sit 15th after eight matches.

The 30-year-old featured largely on the right flank during Pulis' final season at the Riverside Stadium, but he has now been moved into a central role by Woodgate following a request by the player.

Shotton started his professional career as a right-back in Pulis' Stoke side before establishing himself more centrally at Derby County and then Birmingham City, but he was moved back to the right flank when Pulis arrived at Boro.

The Stoke youth product has now claimed it was unfortunate that Pulis decided to make this call following his arrival at the Teesside outfit in 2017, but Shotton is also reluctant to complain seeing as he saw plenty of game time under Pulis.

“Part of what I was punished for under Pulis was that I was a centre-half at Stoke with him and yet I never played a single game at centre-half for him. I came here after Birmingham, where people started to take me seriously as a centre-half, having been a right-back filling in," he told The Northern Echo.

“I did a job for Pulis here and when he left I said to Woody ‘I want to play at centre-half’. He said if we get the right players in then definitely. Now I think it is showing what I can do there.

"I am glad I was brought up here as a centre-half, people knew that, unfortunately, Tony came in and played me at full-back again. I am not going to complain because it is a privilege to play in a Middlesbrough shirt and I played a lot under him.”

The Verdict

It is clear from these comments that Woodgate has placed a lot of trust in Shotton this season after the player asked if he could be moved to the centre-back role this season.

There is a lot of responsibility on Shotton's shoulders playing in this central area after a long stint at right-back, but Woodgate clearly feels he now possesses the experience to operate in the role.

I also think it is more beneficial to Middlesbrough if he is playing in a position where he is truly happy, as this should then allow him to play with more confidence and deliver better performances.

The 30-year-old was clearly not comfortable being regularly used on the right flank by Pulis last term, so it is surprising that the former Boro boss persisted with this strategy throughout his time at the club.