High praise for Middlesbrough's new coach as Newcastle start search for replacement

NEWCASTLE United academy boss Steve Harper has told Middlesbrough they're getting a "great guy and a very good coach" after Graeme Carrick left the Magpies to join the Boro coaching team.

Carrick - the younger brother of Boro head coach Michael - has led Newcastle's Under-18s for the past two seasons and previously spent 15 years working as a coach in the England set-up.

He was identified as the man Boro wanted to fill the vacancy in the first team coaching staff that was left after the exit of Aaron Danks to Bayern Munich.

Carrick will join Jonathan Woodgate, Grant Leadbitter and Alan Fettis in supporting the head coach.

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Newcastle's academy director Harper said: "I would like to thank Graeme for his excellent work in developing our young players both on and off the pitch.

"Whenever a player of staff member moves on to first team opportunities, whether it's here or elsewhere, we can all be very proud of them.

"Middlesbrough are getting a great guy, a very good coach and we all wish him every success with his new role.

"The search for a new Under-18s lead coach has already begun."

Carrick has started work at Rockliffe, with Boro's players having returned for the start of pre-season on Monday.

He's not the only new face in the support team ahead of the coming season. Strength and conditioning coach John Thrower, who previously spent nine years at Boro before leaving for Tottenham in 2022, has returned and started work last week.