MIDDLESBROUGH'S Gareth Southgate wanted to concentrate on talking club football after his latest England call-up.

The Boro star, along with Danny Mills, has been named in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad to face Sweden in Gothenburg on Wednesday night - a further chance to stake his claim for a Euro 2004 place. But Southgate, after Saturday's draw at Everton, preferred to discuss life at the Riverside where he insists the future is bright.

The 33-year-old's partner at Goodison Park was Chris Riggott, who gave an assured display in the absence of Ugo Ehiogu. And Southgate believes that the likes of the 23-year-old means that Boro's chances of success for years to come are strong. As the season has gone on Chris has got better and better," said Southgate. "He will be frustrated because at Derby he played every game then he has come here and has had to sit in the stands and sidelines.

"He is learning his trade and is progressing really well and I thought he was excellent here.

"In Steve Harrison we have got an excellent coach and the same with the gaffer. Chris is surrounded by good heads. That can only help him and it helps him also to watch Ugo playing in that role. All of us defenders have to urge each other on.

"He is the future of this club along with Stewart Downing, Andrew Davies and Stuart Parnaby. It's great for the club and this club also has a great chance of getting into the FA Youth Cup final for the second year in a row. That shows just what potential this club has."

Southgate should meet up with Everton's Wayne Rooney this week ahead of the trip to Sweden - provided the striker recovers from a couple of knocks.

The pair went head-to-head on Saturday and the Boro star felt the full power of the teenager when Rooney's arm caught his eye. Southgate said: "He used an old boxing trick. Everything down my left side was a bit blurred. But I have got on well with him with England and you don't expect any favours and it's a man's game.

"I know exactly what Wayne is about and we knew all the way through that we had to be on our guard to deal with him.

"He's strong, his movement is very intelligent and even when playing for England he gets into places where defenders don't expect."

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