MIDDLESBROUGH could find themselves having to sign another goalkeeper this summer after Jamie Jones made a surprise exit to join League Two side Salford City.

Jones was Boro’s third-choice goalkeeper last season, and while his contract expired at the end of the campaign, the expectation was that the 35-year-old would agree to sign a new deal to fill the same position next term.

He was part of the Boro squad that travelled to Portugal for a training camp last week, but opted to sever his ties with the Teessiders on his return to England.

The decision came as a surprise to Middlesbrough’s coaching staff, with Jones instead signing a contract with Salford, where he will compete for a starting spot in League Two next season.

Even without Jones, Boro remain numerically strong in the goalkeeping department. Seny Dieng will start next season as the number one, with Sol Brynn, Zach Hemming and Tom Glover jostling for position behind him.

However, while any of the trio could start the campaign as number two to Dieng, it is hard to imagine any being happy with the prospect of being the number three goalkeeper and not even making the substitutes’ bench.

With Brynn and Hemming in particular, such a scenario could stunt their development, so Boro could opt to recruit a specialist number three before the transfer window closes.

Jones’ decision to leave Teesside stemmed from a desire to play more football next season, an aim that would have been extremely hard to realise with Boro.

“I had a year last year without playing as I was the third choice at Middlesbrough, sometimes stepping up to the bench, but I just love the game of football,” said Jones, in an interview with Salford’s official website.

“I just want to go out there every Saturday and put performances out there to help the team, and I have missed that part of football, so it is going to be great to get that back.

“I have had a good career, and I am proud of that career and I want to make it better. By joining Salford I am doing that, so it is going to be a great season for me, and a great season for the team, that's the main thing.”