ROBBIE STOCKDALE has admitted he intends to thrash out his Middlesbrough future at the end of the season.
The right-back is on loan at First Division strugglers Rotherham United but he still has one year left on his Riverside contract.
Stockdale, who has also had an unsuccessful stint at West Ham this season, is from Teesside and would ideally like to remain in the North-East and play his football in the Premiership.
After only two substitute appearances for manager Steve McClaren in the Premiership since August, the 24-year-old said: "I'm still contracted to Middlesbrough. I've still got another year and I believe in my own ability.
"I honestly don't know whether I have a future at Middlesbrough - I'll look at things in the summer to see what the future holds. Playing for Rotherham is far better than playing for Middlesbrough reserves. It's got a big edge to it.
"Without being disrespectful, I've got to be realistic about the situation - Rotherham played Preston last weekend, Middlesbrough were at Everton.
"The Premier League is where you want to be because that's where the top players are."
Last season, under McClaren, Stockdale played a major part for Boro and he made his international bow for Scotland.
But the defender was dislodged from his preferred position by England Under-21 international Stuart Parnaby and, following the arrival of Leeds' Danny Mills, Stockdale has fallen even further down the pecking order.
Mills is on loan from Leeds until the end of the season and his agent has played down reports linking the player with a move to either Birmingham or Rangers.
The England full-back - expected to start against Bolton tomorrow - has won over the Boro faithful with a string of committed displays and McClaren has also indicated he would like to keep him on a full-time basis.
Mills' advisor Neil Featherby suggested that he does not expect any negotiations, with any club, to take place until May.
Featherby said: "We are not in talks with any club, including Middlesbrough, at this moment.
"Obviously the situation will be reviewed at the end of the season."
Boro striker Joseph Job, out of contract in the summer, is another whose future is in the balance.
The Cameroon front-man has been the club's leading striker in the past few months since recovering from a serious knee injury.
Job admits that primary discussions have taken place between him and the manager but he wants Boro to make him an offer he would find it hard to refuse.
"I've been at Middlesbrough for four years and I know everbody here but I think they have to show me how much they want to keep me," said the former RC Lens man.
"If the deal is good between the two sides then there will not be a problem. I'm 26 and in my position I would prefer to have my future resolved."
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