GARETH SOUTHGATE insists the Boro goalkeeper's gloves are still very much up for grabs as he prepares to move on new contract talks with both Ross Turnbull and Brad Jones.

Aussie international Jones was Southgate's first choice at the start of the season but he suffered a finger injury in the warm-up before the Liverpool game and Turnbull has been in outstanding form since stepping in.

Southgate has never wavered in view that Boro already had two of the country's best young keepers on their books, even when many fans made it clear they would like to see an experienced replacement brought in for the departing Mark Schwarzer.

Yesterday mfc.co.uk revealed that the 23-year-old County Durham lad has made the highest number of saves per game in the Premier League this season.

But the manager said: "I don't feel there's any need to make a big play of justifying the decision.

"Any goalkeeper who came from outside - if it wasn't someone who was tried and tested in the league, which would be a big outlay in the transfer market - would be someone who was untried and untested.

"We felt that if we were going to go down that route, we might as give our two that opportunity.

"Yes, it's a big decision to make but if you feel people are good enough you have to give them that chance."

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While Turnbull has seized his chance with both hands, Southgate has an encouraging word for Jones, 26, who was for so long in Schwarzer's shadow and now finds himself number two again.

"As delighted as I've been with Ross, Brad is very, very unfortunate because through no fault of his own he's found himself out of the side," he said.

"He was excellent against Tottenham and in the Carling Cup game at Old Trafford. He has outstanding attributes as a goalkeeper and he'll get his chance as the season goes on.

"Things turn, as they did for Ross, and it's still a great challenge between the two. Ross is enjoying his moment in the limelight and rightly so, he's been excellent and his temperament is good.

"But I have to keep Brad ready and keep his head up because he's waited a long time for his chance. I know when Brad gets his chance he'll be as determined as Ross and he'll play as well as Ross has."

Both players' current contracts end in the summer and Southgate expects progress on new deals in the not too distant future, while Turnbull has already expressed his own desire to remain with the club.

"One of the challenges for both of them is to earn that contract," said Southgate.

"They both realise that opportunities for young goalkeepers in this league are limited - there are some clubs which give them, but not very many.

"They've got a chance here, even if it's the two of them, they know there's not a definite first choice goalkeeper in terms of a senior one who's going to go back in as soon as he's fit and available, and that's healthy.

"In terms of contracts, we're all quite comfortable with the situation at the moment but it's something we'll move on in the next few weeks."

In addition to Boro's two homegrown senior goalkeepers, a third, Newton Aycliffe-born Jason Steele, kept a clean sheet for England U19s in a 3-0 win over Albania last night.