Strachan lauds Lita response

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan has praised striker Leroy Lita for battling his way back into the team. The 25-year-old appeared to have slipped down the pecking order at the Riverside Stadium following the summer arrival of Kris Boyd from Rangers. However, Lita was preferred to the Scotland international for last weekend's 3-1 win over former club Reading and rewarded his manager with a goal. Strachan told the club's official website: "I said to the lads a few weeks ago the players who could have a gripe about not being in the team are Leroy, Justin Hoyte and Danny Coyne. "They have all trained very well and were knocking on the door and now Leroy and Hoytey have taken their chance and done very well. "Leroy's lengthened the game for us - that gives us more room to play. He's led the line quite well and he's got a goal, so he deserves his chance."

Source: PA

Source: PA