MIDDLESBROUGH are set to host an England Under-21 international friendly next year.
The Football Association is expected to make an announcement today which will see Gareth Southgate’s side play at the Riverside Stadium in March.
The Young Lions secured their place in next summer’s European Under-21 Championships, which will be held in the Czech Republic, last month, and they travel to the North-East for one of their warm-up games.
Their opponents are understood to be one of Europe’s top football nations.
Boro defender Ben Gibson is hoping to seal his place in Southgate’s squad having played throughout their qualifying campaign, as is on-loan striker Patrick Bamford.
The Under-21s were last in action at the Riverside in February 2012, when they beat Belgium 4-0 in a European Championship qualifier.
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