Ben Gibson is yet to miss a minute of league football for Middlesbrough this season despite speculation over his future. Leeds’ Chris Wood should take note.
It is easy to see why many clubs are calling for the transfer market to close before the season starts, with lots of key players sitting out matches currently because they are linked with moves away.
One of the most recent examples came at Leeds United at the weekend, with striker Chris Wood tweeting a statement ahead of Saturday’s game at Sunderland that “I don’t feel it is right I play today”.
Chris Wood and Robert Green of Leeds United claps the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday.
That is because Sky Sports reports that Wood has undergone a medical at Burnley ahead of a £15m move to the Premier League club.
To be fair to the 25-year-old at least he was honest, with other examples of injuries to the likes of Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool and Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk thought to be nothing more than excuses before a transfer is confirmed.
Yet not all players are responding to speculation regarding their future in such a manner, even if they too are keen to exit their current club to further their career.
Look at Ben Gibson for instance. The Middlesbrough captain has most recently been linked with a £20m move to Manchester City by the Mirror, with many other top flight teams considering the defender after he told Sky Sports in May he “wants to play in the Premier League” following Boro’s relegation.
Yet while everyone at the Riverside knows Gibson would probably be disappointed if he didn’t leave before the end of August, that hasn’t stopped him playing every minute of their 2017/18 Championship campaign to date, wearing the armband for the North East club and even scoring against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
Clearly he has not lost focus and as a professional is doing his best for his current side regardless of whether he is leaving or not. Many other players could learn from the 24-year-old.
Ben Gibson of Middlesbrough wears a face mask during the Sky Bet Championship match against Nottingham Forest.
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