Wheater hopes for settled defence

Wheater readily admits he found things difficult in the aftermath of Robert Huth’s departure to Stoke City in August, with an ever-changing backline a crucial factor in his dip in fortunes.

The return to fitness of Chris Riggott and a further injury set-back for Emanuel Pogatetz provided Wheater with his sixth different partner at the heart of the Boro defence at Barnsley on Monday.

And with doubts over the fitness of Riggott, who did not train in the initial part of the week, that number could rise to seven when Manchester City head to Teesside for an FA Cup third round tie this afternoon.

Enforced tinkering through injuries and suspensions also prevented a back four from forming an understanding, with Riggott’s return to action at Oakwell bringing about a 14th different defence this season.

Wheater accepts that most of the changes have been forced, but he has every right to feel a lack of consistency has knocked his own performances.

“It was another defensive partner when I played with Chris and that can’t help anyone’s form, particularly after I had spent all summer working alongside Robert Huth,”

said Wheater. “We showed in the games early on just how much we had trained together as a unit in August.

“But in recent months we haven’t even really been able to train together. Me and Sean St Ledger (who has returned to Preston) were the only fit and available centre-backs until recently. One had to go on one team in training and the other had to go on the other team. It’s been hard.

“It’s been injuries, suspensions.

I have always said I like playing with Riggott. He is fit again and it’s fantastic to see him back again. Hopefully, Monday will be the start of a run together. He had not played for nearly a year. I am, though, just happy to be playing, whoever it is with.”

While Wheater hopes his partnership with Riggott will continue against Manchester City, he accepts there are likely to be additions to the squad in the coming weeks.

With the transfer window officially open for business for a month, Strachan is looking to bring in a number of new faces, with Celtic’s Gary Caldwell and Mark Wilson just two of the defenders targeted.

“We will need new players, it’s an inexperienced squad,”

said Wheater.

“The manager will have his own ideas on how to boost his squad.

“He will probably be looking to bring in a few players he knows well who he has managed and knows they can do a job.

“We just have to make sure our performances are good enough to stay in the team because other players are likely to be coming in. We know that.”

Wheater has been carrying a small groin problem for a couple of weeks but he is intent on keeping his place under Strachan.

Since the new manager replaced Gareth Southgate in October, the former Celtic boss’ methods have taken some players more time to get used to the new way than others.

But Wheater insists there should be no complaints. “We took time to adapt to his new ideas,” he said.

“He is a good manager, a great coach and he has had a go at us when we have needed it, but when we get used to his methods we will do fine, I’m sure.

“As players we should do the right things anyway. The manager has come in with stronger discipline but we should have been doing that anyway, it’s our job to be at work on time. If you’re not there on time in other jobs you will be fined, disciplined. We should be the same.

“We just have to make sure we do everything right. If we do, it will be to the benefit of us and we will go in the right direction.

“Things take time in football, look at Mark Hughes. He had had 18 months, was given masses of money and he was still sacked. Things in football do take time and hopefully it will turn out well. I’m sure it will.”

■ Wheater was speaking as one of a number of Middlesbrough players handed out gifts and presents to children selected as part of a Golden Ticket programme at the Riverside Stadium.