Middlesbrough goalkeeper clue as transfer decision made after impressive loan

ZACH Hemming will get the chance to become Middlesbrough's second choice goalkeeper next season, according to St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson, who has accepted defeat in his bid to take the 24-year-old back to Scotland.

Hemming has enjoyed an outstanding year with the Buddies, who qualified for Europe after securing a fifth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership, and Robinson was keen on re-signing Hemming for next season if the opportunity presented itself.

But, after talks with Boro, Robinson has now confirmed Hemming won't be heading back to St Mirren - with the keeper instead set to get the chance to be part of Michael Carrick's plans at the Riverside.

Robinson said:  “We’ve tried very hard to get Zach back but it won’t happen. He is a Middlesbrough player and will be going back to Middlesbrough. He’s got the chance to be the No 2 there and he’s developed massively since he’s been with us.

“That’s credit to Jamie (Langfield, St Mirren goalkeeper coach), all the coaching staff and to Zach himself. He’s going back to a very good club. He’s also going back to a very good goalkeeping coach in Alan Fettis.

“They want to see him, they want to look at him and we can’t wait that long. When we have our first game, we have to make sure we are ready to go."

Carrick faces some interesting goalkeeper decisions this summer, with Sol Brynn having also returned to Boro after another impressive loan deal, this time at Leyton Orient in League One.

Both Brynn, 23, and Hemming have two years left on their current contracts at the Riverside.

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What's not clear at this stage is what Robinson's claim about Hemming getting the chance to become second choice at Boro means for Tom Glover. Glover played deputy to Seny Dieng for most of this season but was linked with a move away at the back end of the campaign, with Celtic and Copenhagen among those reportedly interested. Glover missed the final weeks of the season after undergoing minor surgery on a finger injury.

Dieng, too, was linked with a move, with Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Sevilla the clubs credited with showing an interest in the 29-year-old.

Dieng started 35 of Boro's Championship games and Glover the other 11 this season after the pair both arrived last summer.

Boro also have Jamie Jones on their books, with the 35-year-old potentially in line to sign a new contract at the club. His current deal expires this summer but he's stayed on for treatment on a shoulder injury and could extend his stay on Teesside.

Both Brynn and Hemming will be keen to catch the eye when the players return for pre-season.

Hemming has spent the last three seasons on loan in Scotland and racked up 110 appearances.

After accepting he won't be able to re-sign Hemming this summer, St Mirren boss Robinson told the Daily Record: “These things happen. We thank the boy immensely. Zach has been tremendous for us, as have all the boys who are leaving. He goes with nothing but our best wishes to him and his family.”

Discussing his options between the posts, Boro boss Carrick said: "We're fortunate that we have got the goalkeepers to choose from.

"We have to choose what's best for the younger ones and what's best for us in terms of what the squad looks like. What's best for them in terms of how we can bring the best out of them and give them the best chance to fulfil their potential.

"It's an individual case by case. The boys have done well and gained a lot of experience. We have to make decisions on how the balance of the group looks moving forward. That's the time of the year it is but we're fortunate we have them choices to make."