Voices on the game... Middlesbrough

What’s being said ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie at Middlesbrough? Here’s a round-up of the ‘Voices on the game’...

Jonathan Woodgate

Middlesbrough manager, ex-Spurs defender

“I had some good memories at Spurs and I met some good people down there, some of the people are still there now and I keep in contact with some of them. They're a really good football club.

"(Jose Mourinho) is an exceptional manager who's won everything in the game so it will be good to pit my wits against him.”

On the absence through a hamstring injury of Harry Kane, ‘Woody’ added: “I wish Harry Kane was playing so the fans could see what an England number nine looks like. He's a top drawer player but they've got other top drawer players to come in and the team is full of international players.”

Jose Mourinho

Spurs Head Coach

“They’ve won four in a row, two of them away, one goal conceded in four matches and the last two matches away, one of them was at West Brom, the leaders. (On Friday) morning, they just made official two new players (Patrick Roberts and Lukas Nmecha on loan), one striker, one creative player, so I think they will come with everything, and everything also means the passion that the FA Cup demands. When you don’t play with that passion, you are already losing. It’s very important for us to match the mentality they are going to bring.”

Patrick Roberts

New Middlesbrough loan signing from Manchester City

“I’ve had a tough couple of months previously so I’m glad to be here and start with my first game on Sunday, it’ll be good. Premier League opposition is always nice. You maybe want an easy first game or something, but I’ll take everything as it comes. I’ll thoroughly enjoy it and am just happy being back on the pitch playing football again, like I’ve enjoyed doing the whole of my life. Speaking to the manager, the coaching staff and players, they’ve been on the back of a few good wins right now so there’s good momentum. I think it fits me and I want to be winning games and playing football. With the players around me, I’m sure we can keep doing that.”

Ledley King

Legendary former captain, Club Ambassador, former team-mate of Boro boss Woodgate and assistant manager Robbie Keane

“If there was one team they could wish to play against, as a pair, it’s definitely Tottenham. They will be excited, they’ll understand the threats we have and it’s a great experience for them at such an early stage of their careers to face one of their old teams, test themselves and try to get that notch on the goalpost. They’ll see it as a no-lose situation. It will be a special occasion for them and I’m sure they will be looking to cause an upset.”