Teenager Fry told to fight for Boro place, on loan at Rotherham

Talented Middlesbrough centre back Dael Fry has been challenged to earn a first team place at the Riverside, while out on loan at Rotherham United.

The 19-year-old has made seven appearances for the Boro first team but head coach Aitor Karanka sent him on loan to the Championship club to gain the experience needed to make it in the Premier League.

Fry has so far made three appearances for The Millers, conceding at least two goals in each of them as they drew 2-2 against Bristol City and Nottingham Forest, before being beaten 4-2 by Blackburn Rovers.

But Boro under-23 coach Paul Jenkins is adamant the move was right for the youngster.

Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

“It’s a good move for Dael. He has had a taste of first-team action, and everybody at the club thinks very highly of him,” said Jenkins.

“There’s high hopes that in the future he will be a first-team player at Middlesbrough.

“His pathway is probably blocked at the moment, in terms of the amount of game-time he would get (at Boro) this season. So the manager felt it was the right thing to let him go out and play football.

“Dael now has to go to Rotherham and earn his right to play there.

“There are no guarantees – just because he played for this club last season doesn’t automatically mean he’ll go somewhere else and start. That’s the challenge for him.”