AITOR KARANKA insists he is unconcerned by Grant Leadbitter and Dimi Konstantopoulos’ contractual status, even though the influential duo will be free to speak to prospective new employers at the turn of the year.

Middlesbrough skipper Leadbitter and first-choice goalkeeper Konstantopoulos are both due to become free agents next summer, and unlike Adam Reach and Albert Adomah, who recently agreed contract extensions committing them to the Riverside, the pair have not put pen to paper on a new deal.

An initial round of talks with Leadbitter and his representatives stalled at the start of the season, meaning that Boro officials are powerless to prevent the 28-year-old, who has been the subject of a succession of failed bids from Nottingham Forest, from speaking with interested parties once the transfer window reopens in January.

The same is true of Konstantopoulos, who has started Boro’s last 12 league matches, but Karanka is confident the pair will not have their heads turned and potentially lose focus at the start of next year.

“I am not worried about their contract position,” said the Boro head coach. “For me, the most important thing at the moment is that both of those players are playing very well for the team.

“They are not thinking about their contracts or their future, they are completely committed to the team. I am not worried about what might happen to them in January because I am happy with their focus.

“I want to think about the following game or the following week, not about January. Dimi and Grant are playing really well at the moment, and that is my only concern.”

Nevertheless, the uncertainty surrounding Leadbitter in particular is a worry given his influence both on and off the field this season. The midfielder tops Boro’s scoring charts with eight Championship goals, and has developed into a respected leader since replacing Jonathan Woodgate as the on-field skipper.

He has never shown any desire to leave Teesside – indeed when Nottingham Forest hardened their interest in him in the summer of 2013, he immediately spelled out his determination to remain a Middlesbrough player – but the longer the ongoing contract talks drag on, the greater the risk of someone luring Leadbitter away.

That was a key factor in advancing this month’s discussions with Adomah, who was beginning to attract interest from the Premier League after an impressive 18 months in a Boro shirt.

The winger has signed a two-and-a-half year contract extension that ties him to the Riverside until 2017, and Karanka feels his willingness to agree to such a long-term deal represents a powerful endorsement of Middlesbrough’s progress.

“It sends out an important message,” he said. “It is a good message because Albert is an important player, just as it was an important message when Adam Reach signed his extension because he is an academy player that has come through.

“I’m very happy because I said last season, after our game at Huddersfield, that Albert is more than just a player. He is a leader in the changing room and on the pitch, and is the kind of player that is very important in the squad. He understands his role, and he is always looking to help the team, on and off the pitch.”

Having dropped down the bench for the goalless draw with Bournemouth that preceded the international break, Adomah is expected to return to Boro’s starting line-up for tomorrow’s trip to Wigan Athletic.

Ben Gibson has been passed fit for the trip to the DW Stadium, despite damaging his ankle during the first half of England Under-21s’ 3-2 defeat to France on Monday evening.

“Ben is okay,” said Karanka. “We will have to wait to see how he is feeling (after training), but I am hoping that he is going to be good for the weekend.

“I was worried (when he was first injured) because he is a very important player for us. I was a little bit concerned, but when I was speaking to him and he told me that he was okay, it was good for me.”

While Gibson should be part of the squad that travels across the Pennines, Kenneth Omeruo will not feature against Wigan as he is still to return from international duty in Nigeria.

“I don’t think Ken is going to be here in time for the game because he played (on Wednesday),” said Karanka. “We are going to try to do everything we can to get him here, but at the moment, I don’t know if he will be able to arrive on time. He is still in Nigeria at the moment, and the travel will have an effect.”

Despite Omeruo’s best efforts, Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with South Africa meant Nigeria were unable to qualify for January’s Africa Cup of Nations.

“It’s difficult because I know how he will be feeling now,” said Karanka. “It is a very important tournament for African players, but if I am selfish, then it is good for the team. I don’t like to lose a player for one month, and now that will not be happening.”

* Middlesbrough youngster Bryn Morris has joined Burton Albion on a one-month loan. Burton, who are managed by former Boro striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, are currently fourth in League Two.