Middlesbrough captain Jonny Howson has provided an update on his future with the club as his contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
Howson is the longest-serving player at the Riverside Stadium currently, having joined for £5 million from Norwich City back in 2017, just a few months after the club were relegated from the Premier League all those years ago.
While he hasn’t been able to steer Boro back to the promised land, Howson has still been an influential player in and around the dressing for coming up to a decade, having made 315 appearances for the club in all competitions. Even at the ripe age of 35, Howson has featured 40 times for the club under Michael Carrick across the 2023/24 campaign.
Nevertheless, the veteran midfielder’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and there have been no reports that Middlesbrough are looking to tie the skipper down to a new deal to ensure he doesn’t leave for free over the coming months.
The former Leeds United man was on the official EFL Podcast this week, discussing his future. When asked about staying with the Teesside outfit, Howson admitted that this isn’t the first time he has experienced such a situation at Boro [quotes via Football League World]:
Want some 🐟 with that? 🍟👌
You voted this Jonny Howson effort as #Boro's Goal of the Month for August 📊 #UTB pic.twitter.com/Tec1IU3C2M
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) September 9, 2021
“I guess that’s not for me to answer. You’ll have to ask above me,” Howson said.
“Of course, I’d love to stay. It’s funny because it’s been very similar the past two or three seasons, where we’ll get to this stage of the season and [then I pick up another contract].
“So it’s nothing new regarding myself. I’m pretty relaxed about it, and if I can stay another season, great, I’d love to. If not, that’s part and parcel of football. I’ll look for another club,” he continued.
“When you are a bit younger you see certain things that go on in football and it does take you by surprise. When you get to this age and you’ve seen certain things go on nothing surprises you.”
Writer’s View
Howson has been such a key player under Carrick and this likely won’t change anytime soon. The captain still has plenty of gas left in the tank and it would be wise for Middlesbrough to utilise his experience by offering him yet another one-year contract.
There are quite a few young players at the Riverside Stadium currently and there will likely be more in the future. Having Howson’s experience at the club to set an example for the rest of the group is invaluable.
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