Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate gushes over new signing Ravel Morrison, claiming the Sheffield United loanee is an outstanding player, as per the Northern Echo.
The Championship side brought the 27-year-old on transfer deadline day for the remainder of the season, with Harold Moukoudi also joining the North Yorkshire club from St Etienne on the same day.
The England international joined Chris Wilder’s side in the summer but failed to impress at Bramall Lane with only one Premier League appearance to his name this campaign.
However, Woodgate heaped praises on Morrison and insisted that he has not taken a gamble by signing the former Lazio midfielder.
“I just think he’s an absolutely outstanding player, and I think we can get the best out of him.
“People say he’s had issues, but who hasn’t had issues? I’ve had a few myself. It doesn’t concern me one little bit.
“Go and meet him. I’ll bring in him here, see what you think of him. He’s a top lad, a really nice kid. Sometimes the press portray you in the wrong way, and I think that’s happened with Ravel. Listen, we all mistakes, I’ve done that myself. But he’s a good kid, a good lad. He’ll fit right into the dressing room and I’m really pleased to have him.
“We were always going to try and bring in another one in that area, and Ravel was always top of my list. I went to see Chris Wilder about eight weeks ago. I went down to his training ground before the Forest game, on the day of the game.
“Me and Neil (Bausor, Middlesbrough chief executive) spoke to him about different things, different ideas he has. I like going to speak to different managers and seeing what I can learn from them. Ravel came into the conversation because I knew he wasn’t playing and I know what type of player he is.”
The experienced midfielder was regarded as a future superstar when he first started out at Manchester United, however, his subsequent spells at a host of different clubs only served to diminish his reputation.
He couldn’t feature in Boro’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday but it is likely he will be handed his debut in the next encounter against Brentford at Griffin Park.
