JOHN JOHNSON is a versatile defender who can play right-back and centre-back and is another bright prospect from the Academy.

Hailing from Middlesbrough's Park End area, he joined the Academy set-up as a scholar in 2005.

Johnson put in a string of impressive performances for the Reserves in the 2007/08 season and signed a professional contract in the summer of 2008.

He was heavily involved in Boro's 2008/09 pre-season campaign and showed no sign of nerves when he took part in the Algarve Tournament games against Champions League qualifiers Celtic and Vitoria Guimaraes.