Gareth Southgate admits if Steve Gibson wants a change at Middlesbrough Football Club before the end of the season, then he will make it.

Boro are now four points adrift of safety following their defeat at Stoke City, yet the general consensus is that Southgate will be given the rest of the season to save the situation.

However, as the pressure mounts on the former England international defender, he admits if chairman Gibson wants to make a change, he will be ruthless enough to do so.

"If the chairman thinks there's a need for change then he'll do it,” he said. "He's an incredibly supportive person with a very stable football club but he's also a ruthless businessman."