Wheater celebrated a first goal for Boro since March 2009

Middlesbrough defender David Wheater is confident his partnership with on-loan Celtic defender Stephen McManus can be a success at the Riverside.

Wheater, 22, has played alongside a string of defensive partners this season but believes he and McManus, 27, could form a settled combination.

"He's a leader, he's captained Scotland and Celtic in the Champions League," he told BBC Tees.

"It's good to have a bit of experience next to me and we play well together."

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Ipswich at Portman Road took Boro's unbeaten run to four matches, with three draws and a victory in that spell.

The win also marked a first goal for Wheater since the club's FA Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Everton in March 2009, and the Redcar-born centre-back revealed his relief.

"Everybody's told me it's about time I scored," he admitted.

"I've actually been happier with my getting on the end of things, I haven't been doing that for a while.

"I should have scored last week, but I did get on the end of some things and now it's paid off and I've scored."

Wheater has been with Middlesbrough since signing schoolboy forms and has made 118 appearances since his debut in the Uefa Cup against Sporting Lisbon in March 2005.

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