Woodgate: Gibson is making the case for Boro defence

Ben Gibson has fast established himself as a pivotal figures in the Boro back four but former defender Jonathan Woodgate insists the best is yet to come.

A number of top-flight clubs are rumoured to be interested in Gibson – who has played international football at nearly every age group and could be in line for an England call-up soon enough.

But after time spent out on loan at the likes of Plymouth and Tranmere, Gibson has matured this season and blossomed into a key player, according to Woodgate.

“Ben can be very good, as we’ve seen this season,” said the former Real Madrid defender.

“It was obvious that this season was going to be a big test for him, but I was confident that he would step up and show it.

“He’s a very consistent player, Ben. He’s not the type of player, touch wood, who makes many mistakes. He’s easy on the eye.

“The thing Ben’s got going for him is communication. It’s really, really good, he bosses people about and if you’ve got that as a centre-half, no matter what you’re like, you can be the slowest or the fastest, but if you’ve got that communication skill of organising people around you, it’s perfect.

“And he’s got that, he’s got a mouth, he does really well, he’s starting to read the game a lot better and he practices, and that’s what he needs.”